What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
develop
Example
She worked hard to develop her artistic skills. [develop: verb]
Example
The company is developing a new product line. [developing: present participle]
Example
The plot of the story developed slowly over time. [developed: past tense]
evolve
Example
The design of the car evolved over several years. [evolved: past tense]
Example
The species evolved to better adapt to their environment. [evolve: verb]
Example
Her thinking on the topic evolved as she learned more about it. [evolved: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Develop is more commonly used than evolve in everyday language, especially in business and technology contexts. Evolve is more commonly used in scientific or academic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between develop and evolve?
Develop is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while evolve is more commonly used in formal or technical writing.
