EN

Synonyms for devolve

  • verb

Most common

drop degenerate deteriorate pass down consign depute

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

1. Degenerate — to degenerate; to break down

degenerate, deteriorate, drop

2. Pass down — to delegate (a responsibility, duty, etc.) on or upon someone

pass down, pass on

3. Fall

fall, return

4. Roll down — to roll (something) down; to unroll

roll down, unfurl, unwind

Other

consign, hand down, succeed, transfer, commission, charge, charre UK, depute

Antonyms

evolve, improve

All antonyms of devolve →

Definitions

  1. v. 1

    To delegate (a responsibility, duty, etc.) on or upon someone.

    Near-synonyms: pass down, pass on, hand down

  2. v. 2

    To degenerate; to break down.

    A discussion about politics may devolve into a shouting match.

  3. v. 3

    To roll (something) down; to unroll.

    Near-synonyms: unwind, unfurl

  4. v. 4

    To be inherited by someone else; to pass down upon the next person in a succession, especially through failure or loss of an earlier holder.

Related words

Word family
devolvement devolution

Forms

Past participle
devolved
e.g. devolved → degenerated, deteriorated, dropped, fallen…

Example sentences

  • drop Why don't you drop in for tea at your convenience?
  • degenerate Don't allow your muscles to degenerate.
  • deteriorate Boldi's eyesight began to deteriorate drastically.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
devolvesteady
dropsteady
degeneratesteady
deterioratesteady
consignsteady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters
fall1, drop1
6 letters
return2, charge1, unwind2, unfurl2, depute, charre
7 letters
succeed2, consign2
8 letters
transfer2
10 letters
commission3, degenerate4
11 letters
deteriorate5

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (return2 = 2 syllables).