evolution

/ˌiːvəˈluːʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌevəˈluːʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌe-və-ˈlü-shən ˌē-və-/ (ame, mw)

evolution — noun

1. the scientific process by which living organisms change across many generations

1.名詞B2
釋義

the scientific process by which living organisms change across many generations as inherited traits are passed on and modified, with new forms of life gradually arising from earlier ones

例句

Maja's biology textbook explains how evolution works through natural selection.

Fossil evidence supports the theory that the evolution of whales began with four-legged land ancestors.

collocation: theory of evolution

同義詞
  • natural selection

    not a true synonym — natural selection is the main mechanism that drives evolution, not the process itself

  • adaptation

    narrower — adaptation refers to individual traits changing in response to the environment, while evolution covers the whole species-level change

  • speciation

    more specific — speciation is the part of evolution where one species splits into two distinct species

反義詞
  • extinction

    the opposite direction — extinction ends a species, while evolution continues it in changed form

  • stasis

    a state where no evolutionary change occurs over long periods

文法句型

the evolution + of [species/trait]

theory of evolution

用法筆記

Frequently used as 'theory of evolution' to name the scientific framework first proposed by Charles Darwin. The word itself refers to the process, not the theory.

常見錯誤

❌Evolution means that humans came from monkeys that we see today.
✅Evolution explains that humans and modern apes share a common ancestor that lived millions of years ago.
💡Evolution does not claim one living species turned into another; it describes shared ancestry over vast timescales.
❌The evolution of the dog happened quickly when people started breeding them.
✅The evolution of dogs from wolves happened over thousands of years of selective breeding.
💡Evolution on a species level takes many generations, not a few years.

2. the way something slowly becomes more developed or better organised over time th

2.名詞B2
釋義

the way something slowly becomes more developed or better organised over time through a series of small changes

例句

The evolution of smartphone technology has changed how people communicate and work.

collocation: evolution of [technology/field]

Ayesha watched the evolution of her garden from dry soil to a flower-filled space.

collocation: evolution from + noun + to + noun

同義詞
  • development

    broader and more neutral — development can be planned or sudden; evolution always implies gradual change

  • progress

    emphasises improvement and forward movement, while evolution can describe change without judging it as better

  • advancement

    more formal and strongly implies reaching a higher, superior stage

反義詞
  • stagnation

    a period without growth or development — the opposite of ongoing change

  • decline

    movement toward a worse state rather than a more advanced one

文法句型

the evolution + of [thing]

evolution from + noun + to + noun

用法筆記

This sense does not involve biology. It applies to technology, society, art, language, business, and personal skills. The focus is on gradual, often unplanned, movement toward a more advanced state.

常見錯誤

❌The evolution of the product was carefully planned by the design team.
✅The evolution of the product happened gradually as the team responded to customer feedback.
💡Evolution implies gradual, often unplanned change, not deliberate step-by-step planning.