evolutionary
evolutionary — adjective
1. relating to the scientific theory of how groups of living organisms change gradu
relating to the scientific theory of how groups of living organisms change gradually across many generations through processes such as natural selection and genetic adaptation
Darwin's theory of evolutionary change shows how bird species diverged on the Galápagos Islands.
attributive use: evolutionary + noun (change, biology, history)
The evolutionary split between humans and other apes happened millions of years ago.
Fossil records provide strong evidence for the evolutionary history of whales returning to the ocean.
Sivan's biology class studied the evolutionary adaptations that help desert animals survive drought.
An evolutionary biologist might examine how bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics over time.
- genetic
more specific — focuses on DNA and heredity rather than the entire process of species change
- adaptive
narrower — emphasises the aspect of adjusting to environmental conditions
- developmental
different scope — describes changes within a single organism's lifetime, not across generations
- static
describes something that does not change at all, the opposite of evolving
文法句型
evolutionary + noun
用法筆記
Frequently used in attributive position before nouns such as 'biology', 'theory', 'process', and 'history'. The word itself does not imply improvement — evolution can produce simpler or more complex forms depending on what helps a species survive.
常見錯誤
2. describing a series of small, connected changes that happen slowly over time, ra
describing a series of small, connected changes that happen slowly over time, rather than a sudden or complete shift
The company's move toward renewable energy followed an evolutionary path, not a sudden one.
contrasted with 'revolutionary' or 'sudden'
Language follows an evolutionary path where new words appear and old ones fade.
Arjun saw the new policy as an evolutionary step, not a break from past practice.
The evolutionary development of smartphones has made once-essential devices like maps and cameras unnecessary.
Eleni described the peace agreement as an evolutionary shift in the region's politics.
- gradual
simpler and more common; lacks the implication of connected steps building on each other
- incremental
emphasises small additions or increases as part of a series; more common in business and technology contexts
- progressive
suggests forward movement or improvement, which 'evolutionary' does not necessarily imply
- revolutionary
describes a sudden, complete change rather than a slow, step-by-step one
- abrupt
describes something that happens all at once, the opposite of gradual
文法句型
evolutionary + noun
用法筆記
Commonly contrasted with 'revolutionary' to highlight slow, continuous change rather than abrupt transformation. Less appropriate for describing truly sudden or disruptive events.