metamorphose

IPA/ˌmetəˈmɔːfəʊz/
KK[mˌɛtəmˈɔrfoz]IPA/ˌmetəˈmɔːrfəʊz/

metamorphose — verb

  • metamorphosepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • metamorphoseshe / she / it
  • metamorphosedpast simple
  • metamorphosing-ing form

1. to change completely into a different form, type, or character — for example, a

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to change completely into a different form, type, or character — for example, a shy person becoming confident, or a small shop growing into a large chain store.

Example

The small family-run hotel metamorphosed into a luxury resort over the past decade.

metamorphose into [noun phrase] for result of change

After years of hard work, Mei-Lin metamorphosed from a shy assistant into a confident manager.

metamorphose from [starting state] into [result]

Common collocations
  • metamorphose into
  • metamorphose from
  • slowly metamorphose
  • gradually metamorphose
Synonyms
  • transform

    more common in everyday language; 'metamorphose' suggests a more dramatic or complete change

  • turn into

    informal; used for any change, not necessarily dramatic

  • evolve

    suggests gradual development over time rather than a single transformation

Antonyms
  • remain

    to stay the same instead of changing

Grammar Patterns

metamorphose into something

metamorphose from something into something

be metamorphosed into something

Usage Note

Often followed by 'into' to indicate the result of the change. More common in formal writing than in everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

The government metamorphosed the city.
The city metamorphosed into a modern centre.
'metamorphose' is rarely used with a direct object; the intransitive pattern with 'into' is far more natural.

2. to change from a young form into an adult form in separate stages, as a caterpil

2.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to change from a young form into an adult form in separate stages, as a caterpillar becomes a butterfly or a tadpole becomes a frog.

Example

The biology class watched the tadpoles metamorphose into tiny frogs over eight weeks.

metamorphose into [animal life stage]

A caterpillar will metamorphose inside its chrysalis before emerging as a butterfly.

will metamorphose + time/location clause

Common collocations
  • metamorphose into
  • metamorphose from
  • fully metamorphose
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

metamorphose into something

metamorphose from something

take [time] to metamorphose

Usage Note

Used mainly in biology to describe animals such as insects and amphibians that undergo metamorphosis. Not used for animals that grow gradually without a distinct change of form (e.g., humans, mammals).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Metamorphose', 'transform', 'turn into', and 'evolve' all describe a change from one state to another, but they differ in scope and tone. 'Metamorphose' suggests a dramatic, complete change where the result is fundamentally different from the starting point — like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. 'Transform' is more common and can be used for both minor and major changes in almost any context ('The sofa transforms into a bed'). 'Turn into' is informal and used in everyday speech ('Water turns into ice'). 'Evolve' implies a slow, gradual development over time rather than a sudden shift ('The company evolved from a small workshop into a global brand'). For most everyday situations, 'transform' or 'turn into' are better choices than 'metamorphose', which carries a more literary or scientific tone.

transform ↗turn into ↗evolve ↗metamorphose ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • metamorphose from X into Y
  • metamorphose over time

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

From Greek 'metamorphousthai' (to transform), from 'meta-' (change) + 'morphe' (form). Entered English via Latin and French in the 16th century, originally referring to magical or mythological shape-changing before gaining its biological use in the 18th century.