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
Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025
Eight years later, Democrats have devolved into nostrums about appealing to the middle class, ditching academic language, and finding a uniting message.
—Alexander Nazaryan, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
What begins as a tender meeting of the minds, soon devolves into a heated argument over whether Innie Mark should help his Outie free Outie Mark’s wife, Gemma (Dichen Lachman), from the bowels of Lumon.
—Josh Weiss, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
The gathering came as town halls held by some congressmen around the country have devolved into screaming matches, with the election officials being shouted down by critics of Trump’s approach since taking office or how Democrats have responded.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 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 28 Mar. 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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