Skip to main content
to coevolve

to coevolve

1 7.5
To change together with another living thing, each affecting the other
  • verb
  • /koʊˈiːvɒlv/
  • Specialized
translation icon : coevolucionar
  • The models all follow Cole (1954) in assuming that age at maturity, fecundity, growth, and mortality have coevolved to maximize Darwinian fitness.
  • coevolving predator

Examples

  • This base of understanding is fundamental for society as people's livelihoods and landscapes coevolve into the future.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The opening and closing time of flowers, for instance, varies between species and has coevolved in synchrony with the presence and activities of animals.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Over time, such genes were able to coevolve, forming into ever more effective coalitions.

    Academic text (2002)
  • At this point, the jury is still out on whether the hosts and viruses coevolved.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Evolutionary systems tend to coevolve as minute advances in one system's design are made possible only by subtle alterations in another.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Life and the environment have coevolved, but their interactions have not always been optimal for all forms of life or even for the overall biomass.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Parasites and their hosts coevolve more rapidly, and partners in a mutualistic relationship can evolve more slowly.

    Blog text (33)
  • Occurring everywhere and on all living matter, fungi have coevolved with and flourished inside diverse hosts.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Eagle owls' white plumage patches and the timing of their displays may have coevolved to maximize the effectiveness of their social communication.

    Academic text (2010)
  • The lives of this desert bat and desert cactus appear to have coevolved over generations.

Synonyms

to coadapt
vsto coevolve
  • Specialized
7.8

To change together so two or more parts work better with each other

develop together over time and influence each other without aiming to improve fit

Antonyms

19 6.8

To move apart and also become different, like roads or opinions

How Interdependent

to coevolve
  • Specialized
1 7.5
to influence
591 2.2
to evolve
591 4.0

Surface Forms

coevolve infinitive
coevolved past
coevolved past participle
coevolving present participle
coevolves third person singular

Morphology

coevolve = evolve + co (transparent) = co + evolve

The meaning is directly derived from the productive prefix 'co-' (together) + the verb 'evolve', yielding 'evolve together' or mutual evolution.

Etymology

The word coevolve combines co- meaning 'together' and evolve meaning 'to change over time', so it is like two dance partners learning new steps from each other and changing together.