de·volve
verb \di-ˈvälv, -ˈvȯlv, dē-\
de·volvedde·volv·ing
Definition of DEVOLVE
transitive verb
: to pass on (as responsibility, rights, or powers) from one person or entity to another <devolving to western Europe full responsibility for its own defense — Christopher Lane>
intransitive verb
1
a : to pass by transmission or succession <the estatedevolved 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 <his allegedly subversive campaigns…devolve from his belief in basic American rights — Frank Deford>
3
: to degenerate through a gradual change or evolution<where order devolves into chaos — Johns Hopkins Magazine>
See Examples of DEVOLVE
- 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 willdevolve more power to the community itself.
- Responsibility has devolved to the individual teachers.
Origin of DEVOLVE
Middle English, from Latin devolvere, from de- + volvere to roll — more at voluble
First Known Use: 15th century
Related to DEVOLVE
- Synonyms
- atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend,deteriorate, ebb, regress, retrograde, rot, sink, worsen
- Antonyms
- ameliorate, improve, meliorate
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