revolved around

USAGE SUMMARY

"revolved around" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It generally refers to the central idea or theme of something, such as an argument, story, or discussion. For example, you could say: "The conversation revolved around the current political climate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mine revolved around my sons.

The New York Times

"Everything revolved around maximizing points.

The New York Times

All talk revolved around emigration.

The New York Times

Soon my entire life revolved around tweeting.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Everything we did revolved around the movement.

The New York Times

"His life revolved around art and skating".

The New York Times

These largely revolved around hygiene.

The Guardian - Sport

The discussion revolved around religious equality.

The New York Times

The piece revolved around wasps.

The Guardian - Arts

Everything revolved around that work".

The New York Times

"Hollywoodism" revolved around sexual thoughts, he added.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "revolved around" to emphasize the central importance of a particular theme, idea, or person in a narrative or discussion. This phrase effectively conveys that everything else is secondary to this core element.

Common error

While "revolved around" is a valid and expressive phrase, avoid using it in contexts where simpler alternatives like "concerned" or "focused on" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "revolved around" functions as a predicate in sentences, indicating the central theme, focus, or subject of something. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase effectively communicates that other elements are dependent on or subordinate to the specified focus. For example, "Everything "revolved around" that work."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "revolved around" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrasal verb that signifies the central focus or theme of something. Ludwig AI validates its consistent usage across diverse contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and business domains. While versatile, it's crucial to use it judiciously, opting for simpler terms like "centered on" or "focused on" when the context doesn't warrant strong emphasis. Remember, its strength lies in highlighting the core element around which everything else is connected, thus elevating its impact when applied thoughtfully.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

centered on

Indicates a focus on a particular point or subject, similar to "revolved around" but with a more static connotation.

focused on

Implies a concentration of attention or effort, resembling "revolved around" in its emphasis on a core element.

hinged on

Suggests that everything depended on a particular aspect, sharing the sense of centrality with "revolved around".

concerned with

Highlights the subject matter being addressed, similar to how "revolved around" indicates a central topic.

pertained to

Relates to a specific subject matter, echoing the focus implied by "revolved around".

was about

A simpler way to indicate the topic, similar to "revolved around" but less formal.

dealt with

Indicates that something addressed or concerned a particular topic, akin to "revolved around".

had to do with

Informal way of expressing that something was related to a particular subject, like "revolved around".

turned on

Emphasizes that the outcome or situation depended on something, similar to the dependency implied by "revolved around".

gravitated toward

Indicates a natural movement or focus towards something, sharing the sense of centrality with "revolved around".

FAQs

How can I use "revolved around" in a sentence?

You can use "revolved around" to indicate that something is the central theme or focus of a discussion, activity, or person's life. For example, "The conference "revolved around" sustainable energy solutions" or "His life "revolved around" his family".

What are some alternatives to "revolved around"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "centered on", "focused on", "hinged on", or "concerned with".

Is it appropriate to use "revolved around" in formal writing?

Yes, "revolved around" is suitable for formal writing, especially when you want to emphasize the central importance of something. However, ensure it fits the overall tone and doesn't sound overly dramatic. In some cases simpler alternatives may be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "revolved around" and "centered on"?

While both phrases indicate a central focus, "revolved around" suggests that other elements are in orbit or secondary to the main focus. "Centered on", in contrast, simply indicates the main point without necessarily implying any orbiting elements.