devolve

verb

de·​volve di-ˈvälv How to pronounce devolve (audio)
-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 defenseChristopher Lane

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 womenBarbara 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 rightsFrank 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.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The matches often devolve into the wrestlers stumbling around the ring, trying to find each other based on the sound of the crowd. Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025 Town halls, which originated in the New England colonies in the seventeenth century, often devolve. Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025 Sometimes a happy relationship devolves into the stuff of nightmares. Alex Jhamb Burns, Vogue, 22 Aug. 2025 Jurors returned with a guilty verdict on that charge in the first criminal trial, but after the jury foreman claimed deliberations had devolved into threats of violence, the judge dismissed the seven women and five men who, by that point, had spent six days trying to reach a unanimous decision. Chris Spargo, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for devolve

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of devolve was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Devolve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/devolve. Accessed 2 Sep. 2025.

Legal Definition

devolve

intransitive verb
de·​volve di-ˈvȯlv, -ˈvälv How to pronounce devolve (audio)
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 PresidentU.S. Constitution art. II
Etymology

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

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