devolve

verb

de·​volve di-ˈvälv 

-ˈvȯlv,

dē-

devolved; devolving

transitive verb

: to pass on (something, such as responsibility, rights, or powers) from one person or entity to another

… devolving to Western Europe full responsibility for its own defense …

—Christopher Layne

intransitive verb

1

a

: to pass by transmission or succession

The estate devolved on a distant cousin.

b

: to fall or be passed usually as a responsibility or obligation

… the responsibility for breadwinning has devolved increasingly upon women …

—Barbara Ehrenreich

2

: to come by or as if by flowing down

streams devolving from the mountains

His allegedly subversive campaigns … devolve from his belief in basic American rights …

—Frank Deford

3

: to degenerate through a gradual change or evolution

The scene devolved into chaos.

Did you know?

The Evolution of Devolve

Evolve? Check. Revolve? Check. Devolve? Now we’re on a roll—literally. All three of these words (and more) evolved from the Latin verb volvere, meaning "to set in a circular course, to cause to roll, to bring round." Latin ēvolvere means "to roll out or away"; Latin revolvere means "to roll back to a starting point"; and Latin dēvolvere means "to roll (something) down." In its earliest uses in the 15th century, devolve was about literally rolling down: it meant "to roll onward or downward." Today the word is typically about a more figurative rolling down, as when an organization devolves power—that is, passes power down—to those at a lower level of authority, or when a deteriorating situation is described as "devolving into chaos." One word, multiple uses. That's just how English rolls.

Synonyms of devolve

• deteriorate
• descend
• crumble
• worsen
• decline

Examples of devolve in a Sentence

She cynically asserts that our species is devolving.

Somehow the debate devolved into a petty competition to see who could get more applause.

Community leaders hope that the new government will devolve more power to the community itself.

Responsibility has devolved to the individual teachers.

Recent Examples on the Web

The situation devolves from there, in a sort of micro-zombie apocalypse. —The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2025

Melissa became a Category 3 hurricane, before devolving to a Category 2 hurricane. —Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025

The race started behind the safety car in a downpour, barely got going before devolving into yellow-flag chaos and was finally red-flagged on lap 25, suspending the race for over two hours. —The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025

Discretion had devolved into reclusion, privacy into withdrawal. —Joy Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English devolven "to transfer, overthrow," borrowed from Latin dēvolvere "to roll (something) down, (in passive voice) sink or fall back, become subject (to), be passed down (to an heir)," from dē- de- + volvere "to set in a circular course, cause to roll" — more at wallow entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for devolve

• absolve
• dissolve
• evolve
• involve
• resolve
• revolve
• solve

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Legal Definition

devolve

intransitive verb

de·​volve di-ˈvȯlv, -ˈvälv 

devolved; devolving

1

: to pass by transfer or succession

the estate devolved to a distant cousin

2

: to fall or be passed usually as an obligation or responsibility

in case of the removal of the President from office, or of his…inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President

—U.S. Constitution art. II

Etymology

Medieval Latin devolvi, passive of devolvere to roll down, from Latin, from de down, away + volvere to roll