devolve meaning

devolve as a verb

1. pass on or delegate to another
   • The representative devolved his duties to his aides while he was in the hospital

   Type of: delegate

   Related forms: devolvement, devolution

2. be inherited by
   • The estate fell to my sister
   • The land returned to the family
   • The estate devolved to an heir that everybody had assumed to be dead

   Synonyms: fall, return, pass

   Type of: change hands

   Kinds: fall

3. grow worse
   • Her condition deteriorated
   • Conditions in the slums degenerated
   • The discussion devolved into a shouting match

   Synonyms: deteriorate, drop, degenerate

   Type of: worsen

   Kinds: tire, languish, waste

How to pronounce devolve

devolve is pronounced /dɪˈvɑlv/ in American English. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.

Words that rhyme with devolve

• resolve
• involve
• dissolve
• solve
• revolve
• absolve