devolved; devolving 1 : to pass by transfer or succession the estate devolved to a distant cousin 2 : to fall or be passed usually as an obligation or responsibility

DEVOLVE definition: to transfer or delegate (a duty, responsibility, etc.) to or upon another; pass on. See examples of devolve used in a sentence.

Phrasal verb devolve something to someone (Definition of devolved from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

4 meanings: 1. to pass or cause to pass to a successor or substitute, as duties, power, etc 2. law (of an estate, etc) to pass.... Click for more definitions.

Definition of devolve verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

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 …

1. To be passed on or transferred to another: The burden of proof devolved upon the defendant. The estate devolved to an unlikely heir. 2. To degenerate or deteriorate gradually: After several hours the …

Devolve definition: To pass on or delegate to another.

Community leaders hope that the new government will devolve more power to/on/upon the community itself. Responsibility has devolved to/upon the individual teachers.

devolve, v. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary