Devolve
verb
To pass responsibilities, duties, or rights to another person or group from someone who has more power.
The federal government has the tendency to devolve certain responsibilities to state authorities.
Often appears as...
- devolve responsibilities
- devolve powers
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To degenerate or deteriorate gradually.
The meeting quickly devolved into a shouting match.
Often appears as...
- devolve into chaos
- devolve into conflict
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To transfer from one person or government to another.
The estate was devolved to the eldest son.
Often appears as...
- devolve property
- devolve estate
Usage tips
Formal
Legal, General
verb
To pass responsibilities, duties, or rights to another person or group from someone who has more power.
The federal government has the tendency to devolve certain responsibilities to state authorities.
Often appears as...
- devolve responsibilities
- devolve powers
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To degenerate or deteriorate gradually.
The meeting quickly devolved into a shouting match.
Often appears as...
- devolve into chaos
- devolve into conflict
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
To transfer from one person or government to another.
The estate was devolved to the eldest son.
Often appears as...
- devolve property
- devolve estate
Usage tips
Formal
Legal, General
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Government Context
Often used in political or administrative discussions about distributing tasks.
To increase efficiency, the UN may devolve specific functions to regional offices.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Physical
'Devolve' can mean passing non-tangible items like authority or a workload.
After the election, the mayor chose to devolve some of her duties to her deputy.
Pro Tip 3/3May Imply Reluctance
Sometimes used to suggest hesitation or unwillingness in the transfer of power.
The company was forced to devolve management rights to local partners.
Pro Tip 1/3Government Context
Often used in political or administrative discussions about distributing tasks.
To increase efficiency, the UN may devolve specific functions to regional offices.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Physical
'Devolve' can mean passing non-tangible items like authority or a workload.
After the election, the mayor chose to devolve some of her duties to her deputy.
Pro Tip 3/3May Imply Reluctance
Sometimes used to suggest hesitation or unwillingness in the transfer of power.
The company was forced to devolve management rights to local partners.
Pro Tip 1/3Government Context
Often used in political or administrative discussions about distributing tasks.
To increase efficiency, the UN may devolve specific functions to regional offices.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Always Physical
'Devolve' can mean passing non-tangible items like authority or a workload.
After the election, the mayor chose to devolve some of her duties to her deputy.
Pro Tip 3/3May Imply Reluctance
Sometimes used to suggest hesitation or unwillingness in the transfer of power.
The company was forced to devolve management rights to local partners.
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Video examples
How teachers can help...
about what teaching and learning look like, because there's this misconception that if we give students any wiggle room, they're going to walk all over us and classrooms and dinner tables will devolve into total chaos. And if we expect kids to sit silently and passively receive knowledge from us,
Video examples
The architectural wonder...
And this is not an informal city or a pop-up city. This is a formal city, this is a state enterprise, the government sets this up. In today's world of neoliberalism and capitalism, where the state has devolved itself complete responsibility from making and designing cities,
Video examples
Nicola Sturgeon: How...
And if we raise our ambition and if we follow that through with action, then we can spark the bigger countries to go further and faster, too. And there's one final point where our voice and our contribution matters. So often it's states or devolved nations like Scotland
Video examples
A path to security for...
and pretty soon, they devolve into gangs over time. Other gangs come in, mafias come in, and they offer to protect people from the other criminals and from the police. Unlike the state, the criminals often try to buy legitimacy. They give charity. They solve disputes.
Video examples
How to escape...
They know that to be the case. And the third is, they devolve responsibility to the school level for getting the job done. You see, there's a big difference here between going into a mode of command and control in education -- That's what happens in some systems.
Video examples
Celeste Headlee: 10 ways...
Stick to the weather and your health. But these days, with climate change and anti-vaxxing, those subjects -- are not safe either. So this world that we live in, this world in which every conversation has the potential to devolve into an argument,
Video examples
Portraits of Afghanistan...
fighters devolved into civil war chaos that paved the way for the rise of the taliban the initial core of the taliban were former mujahideen afghan holy warriors who you know with u.s and pakistan support fought against the soviets and kicked
Video examples
How to use experts—and...
embrace as we try to deal with the challenges of these very confusing complex difficult times for if we keep our independent decision-making part of our brains switched on if we challenge experts if we're skeptical if we devolve
Video examples
Incredibly Rare Lemurs...
a big toe like this I think humans have devolved to a little bit they have this over us we'd have to redesign shoes but it would be worth it he's going through the woods he's having a dream catching
Video examples
Ricardo Semler: Radical...
does income tax preparation for dozens of thousands. So this is not a simple business. We looked at it and we said, let's devolve to these people, let's give these people a company
Video examples
How teachers can help...
about what teaching and learning look like, because there's this misconception that if we give students any wiggle room, they're going to walk all over us and classrooms and dinner tables will devolve into total chaos. And if we expect kids to sit silently and passively receive knowledge from us,
Video examples
The architectural wonder...
And this is not an informal city or a pop-up city. This is a formal city, this is a state enterprise, the government sets this up. In today's world of neoliberalism and capitalism, where the state has devolved itself complete responsibility from making and designing cities,
Video examples
Nicola Sturgeon: How...
And if we raise our ambition and if we follow that through with action, then we can spark the bigger countries to go further and faster, too. And there's one final point where our voice and our contribution matters. So often it's states or devolved nations like Scotland
Video examples
A path to security for...
and pretty soon, they devolve into gangs over time. Other gangs come in, mafias come in, and they offer to protect people from the other criminals and from the police. Unlike the state, the criminals often try to buy legitimacy. They give charity. They solve disputes.
Video examples
How to escape...
They know that to be the case. And the third is, they devolve responsibility to the school level for getting the job done. You see, there's a big difference here between going into a mode of command and control in education -- That's what happens in some systems.
Video examples
Celeste Headlee: 10 ways...
Stick to the weather and your health. But these days, with climate change and anti-vaxxing, those subjects -- are not safe either. So this world that we live in, this world in which every conversation has the potential to devolve into an argument,
Video examples
Portraits of Afghanistan...
fighters devolved into civil war chaos that paved the way for the rise of the taliban the initial core of the taliban were former mujahideen afghan holy warriors who you know with u.s and pakistan support fought against the soviets and kicked
Video examples
How to use experts—and...
embrace as we try to deal with the challenges of these very confusing complex difficult times for if we keep our independent decision-making part of our brains switched on if we challenge experts if we're skeptical if we devolve
Video examples
Incredibly Rare Lemurs...
a big toe like this I think humans have devolved to a little bit they have this over us we'd have to redesign shoes but it would be worth it he's going through the woods he's having a dream catching
Video examples
Ricardo Semler: Radical...
does income tax preparation for dozens of thousands. So this is not a simple business. We looked at it and we said, let's devolve to these people, let's give these people a company
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Abraham Lincoln
American President
I go to assume a task more difficult than that which devolved upon Washington. Unless the great God, who assisted him, shall be with me and aid me, I must fail; but if the same omniscient mind and almighty arm that directed and protected him shall guide and support me, I shall not fail - I shall succeed.
Quote examples
Gary Wright
American Musician
Unfortunately, music devolved instead of evolved. The music business got into the hands of lawyers and accountants rather than the entrepreneurial creative people, and that's when the beginning of the end started. It's all based on money instead of art and creativity.
Quote examples
Trey Anastasio
American Musician
My life had become a catastrophe. I had no idea how to turn it around. My band had broken up. I had almost lost my family. My whole life had devolved into a disaster. I believe that the police officer who stopped me at three a.m. that morning saved my life.
Quote examples
Andrea Seigel
American Novelist
Ultimately, criticism that 'The Real World' has devolved into a lesser enterprise comes from the viewers who came of age alongside it, not the teens of the moment that MTV has always existed for.
Quote examples
Matthew Davis
American Actor
I'm one of those people where, the more responsibility I have, the better I become. The more I rise up to it. The less responsibility I have, the more I can easily devolve.
Quote examples
Ezra Cornell
American Businessman
My dear, the duty that devolved wholly on you in my absence of guiding and expanding the minds of our dear children is a laborious one and a responsible one.
Quote examples
David Lidington
British Politician
A strong devolved government is vital so that we have proper local decision-making, helping to strengthen the economy and build a more united community.
Quote examples
Millard Fillmore
American President
Upon you, fellow-citizens, as the representatives of the States and the people, is wisely devolved the legislative power.
Quote examples
Dalai Lama
Tibetan Leader
My desire to devolve authority has nothing to do with a wish to shirk responsibility.
Quote examples
Chuck Fleischmann
American Politician
When you have... bipartisan support, it shouldn't devolve into a bipartisan fight.
Quote examples
Abraham Lincoln
American President
I go to assume a task more difficult than that which devolved upon Washington. Unless the great God, who assisted him, shall be with me and aid me, I must fail; but if the same omniscient mind and almighty arm that directed and protected him shall guide and support me, I shall not fail - I shall succeed.
Quote examples
Gary Wright
American Musician
Unfortunately, music devolved instead of evolved. The music business got into the hands of lawyers and accountants rather than the entrepreneurial creative people, and that's when the beginning of the end started. It's all based on money instead of art and creativity.
Quote examples
Trey Anastasio
American Musician
My life had become a catastrophe. I had no idea how to turn it around. My band had broken up. I had almost lost my family. My whole life had devolved into a disaster. I believe that the police officer who stopped me at three a.m. that morning saved my life.
Quote examples
Andrea Seigel
American Novelist
Ultimately, criticism that 'The Real World' has devolved into a lesser enterprise comes from the viewers who came of age alongside it, not the teens of the moment that MTV has always existed for.
Quote examples
Matthew Davis
American Actor
I'm one of those people where, the more responsibility I have, the better I become. The more I rise up to it. The less responsibility I have, the more I can easily devolve.
Quote examples
Ezra Cornell
American Businessman
My dear, the duty that devolved wholly on you in my absence of guiding and expanding the minds of our dear children is a laborious one and a responsible one.
Quote examples
David Lidington
British Politician
A strong devolved government is vital so that we have proper local decision-making, helping to strengthen the economy and build a more united community.
Quote examples
Millard Fillmore
American President
Upon you, fellow-citizens, as the representatives of the States and the people, is wisely devolved the legislative power.
Quote examples
Dalai Lama
Tibetan Leader
My desire to devolve authority has nothing to do with a wish to shirk responsibility.
Quote examples
Chuck Fleischmann
American Politician
When you have... bipartisan support, it shouldn't devolve into a bipartisan fight.
Example 1 of 10
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