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Glite Dictionary
to revolve about

to revolve about

5.8
To be mainly about one person, topic, or thing
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : girar en torno a
  • Her life revolves about her family.

Examples

  • The storylines in the show revolve about the lives of the main characters.

  • Much of the conversation seemed to revolve about the upcoming holiday.

  • Her daily schedule tends to revolve about her children's activities.

  • The discussion revolved about climate change.

  • Most students feel that their lives revolve about their studies and personal goals.

  • Her days revolve about taking care of her family and managing the household.

  • The discussion revolves about how to improve our community's environmental standards.

Synonyms

to focus on
vsto revolve about
∞ 2.0

Give most attention and effort to one person or task

is broader, meaning mainly concerned rather than actively giving most attention
all about
vsto revolve about
∞ 3.0

Completely focused on one main subject or purpose

is less absolute and means mainly concerned rather than completely focused
to concentrate on
vsto revolve about
279 3.1

Give your full attention to one activity or subject

is less effortful, meaning mainly concerned rather than giving full attention
to center
vsto revolve about
  • US
210 2.8

To focus most attention on one thing

is limited to concern and does not imply physical placement
to revolve around
vsto revolve about
84 3.5

Be the main focus of attention, like a person or topic

has identical meaning but uses a different preposition
to center on
vsto revolve about
  • US
47 3.2

To have something as the main subject

is more about general concern rather than simply making it the main subject

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

neglect
100 3.5

Not caring for someone or something that needs care

How Focused

to revolve about
5.8
to focus on
∞ 2.0
to refer
818 2.4
to touch on
87 3.4

Surface Forms

revolve about infinitive
revolved about past
revolved about past participle
revolving about present participle
revolves about third person singular

Morphology

revolve + about

The meaning 'to be mainly concerned with' is directly derivable from combining 'revolve' (to move or circle around a center) with 'about' (concerning the topic): the physical image of circling around maps transparently onto being centered on or focused on something. This figurative extension is common cross-linguistically and follows a predictable compositional pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words would likely infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Revolve about may come from the image of planets and moons: to revolve means to turn and about means around a center. So when things or talk revolve about a person or topic, they are 'focused on' or 'centered on' that thing.