devolve
Americanverb (used with object)
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devolves,
present (3rd person singular)
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devolved,
past participle, past
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devolving
present participle
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to transfer or delegate (a duty, responsibility, etc.) to or upon another; pass on.
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Obsolete. to cause to roll downward.
verb (used without object)
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devolves,
present (3rd person singular)
-
devolved,
past participle, past
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devolving
present participle
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to be transferred or passed on from one to another.
The responsibility devolved on me.
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Archaic. to roll or flow downward.
verb
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to pass or cause to pass to a successor or substitute, as duties, power, etc
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(intr; foll by on or upon) law (of an estate, etc) to pass to another by operation of law, esp on intestacy or bankruptcy
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(intr; foll by on or upon) to depend (on)
your argument devolves on how you interpret this clause
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archaic to roll down or cause to roll down
Usage
What does devolve mean? To devolve means to transfer or pass on from one to another, as in The discussion about world economics devolved into talking about who earns more money. To devolve also means to delegate or pass on responsibility to another, as in When the governor stepped down from office, his duties devolved to the lieutenant governor. Example: I usually devolve my weekly writeup to my assistant.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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devolvesimple
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devolvessimple
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have devolvedperfect
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has devolvedperfect
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am devolvingprogressive
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are devolvingprogressive
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is devolvingprogressive
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have been devolvingperfect progressive
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has been devolvingperfect progressive
Past
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devolvedsimple
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had devolvedperfect
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was devolvingprogressive
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were devolvingprogressive
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had been devolvingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of devolve
1375–1425; late Middle English devolven < Latin dēvolvere to roll down, equivalent to dē- de- + volvere to roll
Explanation
You've probably heard that organisms evolve over time. Well, life is complicated, and sometimes things devolve instead — to devolve is to get worse instead of better. The de- in devolve is a clue to its meaning. When things devolve, they deteriorate, degenerate, fall apart, go to the dogs, and generally end up worse. When a classroom gets loud and rowdy, a teacher might say the class has devolved. There is another, less negative, meaning of devolve. You can devolve responsibilities: for example, the U.S. government could devolve a certain responsibility to the states. The non-negative meaning of devolve is kind of like passing things on in a will. If I devolve something to you, you inherit it.
Vocabulary lists containing devolve
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He is expected to travel to the central belt to discuss plans to devolve power to local communities.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
After Sasaki gave up a solo home run to Matt Olson in the first inning, the outing began to devolve in the fourth.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
Burnham spent almost a decade as Greater Manchester Mayor and since becoming prime minister has repeatedly said he wants to devolve power away from central government.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
Little did they know it would turn into a four-year saga that would cost them tens of thousands of dollars and devolve into a legal battle between their insurance company and the contractor’s.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026
As it began to devolve into a debate over Rowan’s immediate future, Citra leaned in to him and whispered.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
If the situation devolves any further, then Spurs will likely finish in the bottom three and be booted into the second-tier Championship for next season.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 14, 2026
It’s a quietly shattering place “All Shall Be Well” goes to, in which a time of consoling devolves into petty matters of consolation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2024
It is a shame this strong film devolves when it could have just ended.
From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2024
The hope continues to be that the job market slows its growth but not by so much that it devolves into widespread layoffs.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 5, 2024
“I can’t believe…” Her stammering devolves into sobs as Dad wraps both arms around her shoulders.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
What is really the world’s oldest profession has devolved from pitching ethical monotheism to getting free merch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
By 2013, then-Macy’s Plaza had devolved into a dated, downscale relic that got little love despite its location near offices, hotels and a busy subway interchanget.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
The investigation in Wales will also examine the operation of devolved arrangements and cross-border working between organisations in Wales and England.
From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026
Monday's talks are likely to cover the way the devolved nations are funded by the UK government.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
Then again, if the state of things has really devolved to such a degree, my water must be worth more than ever.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
That case wouldn’t just go down as one of the most shameful moments in the court’s history; it was also the legal system’s most significant contribution in devolving the country into the Civil War.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
But the movie itself isn’t exactly exploring new frontiers of fear, devolving instead into a familiar slasher-thriller with a climax of strained characterization and confusing spatial logic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026
But it doesn't believe devolving sections of lines such as the Great Western - which runs from stations such as Swansea and Cardiff, into England and to Paddington in London - is the solution.
From BBC ● Jan. 3, 2026
But he demonstrated Wednesday that his leadership remains intact—and strong enough to prevent tension in the Fed’s dual mandate from devolving into deleterious tension within the committee.
From Barron's ● Dec. 12, 2025
Arran died unmarried in March 1609, the title devolving on his nephew James, 2nd marquess of Hamilton.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6 "Armour Plates" to "Arundel, Earls of" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
