Christopher LaneBarbara EhrenreichFrank Deford
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The Evolution of Devolve
Evolve? Check. Revolve? Check. Devolve? Now we’re on a roll—literally. All three of these words (and more) evolved from the Latin verb volvere, meaning "to set in a circular course, to cause to roll, to bring round." Latin ēvolvere means "to roll out or away"; Latin revolvere means "to roll back to a starting point"; and Latin dēvolvere means "to roll (something) down." In its earliest uses in the 15th century, devolve was about literally rolling down: it meant "to roll onward or downward." Today the word is typically about a more figurative rolling down, as when an organization devolves power—that is, passes power down—to those at a lower level of authority, or when a deteriorating situation is described as "devolving into chaos." One word, multiple uses. That's just how English rolls.
Examples of devolve in a Sentence
Alecia Taylor, Kansas City Star, 31 May 2025
DeSantis’ hostile takeover of the tiny liberal arts college has devolved into a money pit: The state’s cost for each New College student shot to more than $90,000.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 May 2025
What initially feels like a sharp-elbowed skewering of the rich devolves into a soapy mess.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
Trump’s oval office clash with South African president 03:15
What started as a friendly first meeting between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Oval Office quickly devolved over Trump’s baseless claims of genocide against white people.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for devolve
Cite this Entry
“Devolve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/devolve. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
devolve
intransitive verb
U.S. Constitution art. IIMedieval Latin devolvi, passive of devolvere to roll down, from Latin, from de down, away + volvere to roll
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