# devolve vs devote

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### devolve
*verb · IPA /dɪˈvɒɫv/ · frequency rank #37,886*
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.

### devote
*verb · IPA /dɪˈvəʊt/ · frequency rank #14,311*
to give one's time, focus one's efforts, commit oneself, etc. entirely for, on, or to a certain matter; to consecrate.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/devolve-vs-devote