devolve
verb (used with object)
to transfer or delegate (a duty, responsibility, etc.) to or upon another; pass on.
devolving
-
present participleof devolve.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
He has previously said his time as Greater Manchester mayor had given him "a clear theory of growth" stressing his belief in the importance of devolving powers to local areas.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026
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
How has a band that’s been together for more than 50 years managed to remain a creative force without burning out, splitting up or devolving into little more than a human jukebox pumping out nostalgia?
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 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
The two elder brothers drowned, and all their intentions and plans set aside, and the property devolving to the very person they were so determined to disinherit.
From A Search For A Secret (Vol 2 of 3) A Novel by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty
