VOOZH about

URL: https://www.wordreference.com/definition/devolve

⇱ devolve - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

devolve

Listen:
UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/dɪˈvɒlv/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/dɪˈvɑlv/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(di volv′)

Inflections of 'devolve' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
devolves
v 3rd person singular
devolving
v pres p
devolved
v past
devolved
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
de•volve /dɪˈvɑlv/USA pronunciation   v., -volved, -volv•ing. 
  1. to transfer or delegate (a duty, etc.) to another;
    pass on:[~ + object]The company president has devolved decision-making to the department managers.
  2. to be transferred or passed on from one to another:[no object]The responsibility devolved on me.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
de•volve  (di volv′),USA pronunciation v., -volved, -volv•ing. 
v.t. 
  1. to transfer or delegate (a duty, responsibility, etc.) to or upon another;
    pass on.
  2. [Obs.]to cause to roll downward.

v.i. 
  1. to be transferred or passed on from one to another:The responsibility devolved on me.
  2. [Archaic.]to roll or flow downward.
  • Latin dēvolvere to roll down, equivalent. to dē- de- + volvere to roll
  • late Middle English devolven 1375–1425
de•volve′ment, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
devolve /dɪˈvɒlv/ vb
  1. followed by on, upon, to, etc: to pass or cause to pass to a successor or substitute, as duties, power, etc
  2. (intransitive; followed by on or upon) (of an estate, etc) to pass to another by operation of law, esp on intestacy or bankruptcy
Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin dēvolvere to roll down, fall into, from de- + volvere to rolldeˈvolvement n
'devolve' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Advertisements
Advertisements
Report an inappropriate ad.
WordReference.com
WORD OF THE DAY
GET THE DAILY EMAIL!
Become a WordReference Supporter to view the site ad-free.
Firefox users: use search shortcuts for the fastest search of WordReference.
Copyright © 2026 WordReference.com
Please report any problems.