Revolve-Rotate | Commonly Confused Words

Revolve

/rɪˈvɒlv/

To move in a circular path around a central point

The debate continued to revolve around funding issues.Planets revolve around stars in vast orbits.My thoughts often revolve around futuristic ideas.

/rəʊˈteɪt/

To turn around a central point or axis.

The planet takes 24 hours to rotate completely.Rotate the image clockwise to fit the frame.Astronauts train in a chair that can rotate 360 degrees.

Revolve involves the movement of an object around something else, while rotate involves an object spinning around its own axis.
A good way to remember revolve is to think of the Earth revolving around the Sun.
To remember rotate, imagine a spinning top rotating on a table.
Revolve is often used for orbits, while rotate is used for spinning objects.
Planets revolve around stars, but they rotate on their own axis.