<p>Face, oblique, and cylindrical grinding are widely used in the precision machining of ceramic materials. These grinding modes can be switched by adjusting the axis angle of the grinding wheel during cylindrical surface grinding. However, the effects of grinding modes on the grinding characteristics of ceramic materials remain unclear, significantly restricting the advancement of grinding technology. This study investigates the grain’s kinematics, the contact area between the tool-workpiece, and the theoretical surface roughness during the evolution stage to deepen the understanding of evolution mechanisms in various grinding modes for the cylindrical grinding of ceramic materials, theoretically revealing the transformation process. The impact of the evolutionary process on the cylindrical grinding characteristics of alumina ceramic rods is examined using three representative grinding modes: cup wheel grinding, oblique grinding, and cylindrical transverse grinding. The investigation demonstrates that the evolutionary essence of different grinding modes in cylindrical grinding lies in altering the trajectory of grains and the contact zone with the tool-workpiece, affecting the grinding forces and the surface quality of the workpiece. Cup wheel grinding offers certain advantages regarding material removal rate and surface roughness. Applying resin diamond cup wheels was more suitable for the cylindrical grinding process of ceramic parts, especially at large grinding depths. Lastly, this research provides significant insights for advancing new cylindrical grinding technologies.</p>