development

American  

[dih-vel-uhp-muhnt] / dɪˈvɛl əp mənt /

noun

1. the act or process of developing; growth; progress.

   child development; economic development.

   Synonyms:

   maturation, opening, evolution, growth, elaboration, expansion

   Antonyms:

   disintegration, deterioration

2. a significant consequence or event.

   recent developments in the field of science.

3. a developed or advanced state or form.

   Drama reached its highest development in the plays of Shakespeare.

   Synonyms:

   ripeness, maturity

4. Music. the part of a movement or composition in which a theme or themes are developed, or unfolded and elaborated, by various technical means, so as to reveal their inherent possibilities.

5. a large group of private houses or of apartment houses, often of similar design, constructed as a unified community, especially by a real-estate developer or government organization.

   Synonyms:

   subdivision, community

6. Chess. the act or process of developing chess pieces.

7. Mining. the work of digging openings, as tunnels, raises, and winzes, to give access to new workings, and of erecting necessary structures.

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development British  

/ dɪˈvɛləpmənt /

noun

1. the act or process of growing, progressing, or developing

2. the product or result of developing

3. a fact, event, or happening, esp one that changes a situation

4. an area or tract of land that has been developed

5. Also called: development section.  the section of a movement, usually in sonata form, in which the basic musical themes are developed

6. chess

   1. the process of developing pieces

   2. the manner in which they are developed

   3. the position of the pieces in the early part of a game with reference to their attacking potential or defensive efficiency

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undevelopmental
  adjective
• hyperdevelopmental
  adjective
• antidevelopment
  adjective
• undevelopment
  noun
• predevelopment
  noun
• nondevelopmental
  adjective
• developmentary
  adjective
• developmental
  adjective
• nondevelopment
  noun
• undevelopmentally
  adverb
• developmentally
  adverb
• postdevelopmental
  adjective
• nondevelopmentally
  adverb
• subdevelopment
  noun
• superdevelopment
  noun
• hyperdevelopment
  noun
• self-development
  noun

Etymology

Origin of development

First recorded in 1745–55; develop + -ment, or from French développement

Explanation

Development is the act of improving by expanding, enlarging, or refining. The merging of two university departments might lead to the development of a new curriculum. There are many other definitions for this noun, too. Real estate development is the conversion of land or property to a specific use, like housing or retail space. To grow up, we pass through many stages of development, from infancy to old age. Breaking news is often followed by developments, that is, recent events or information that's relevant to the story.

Example Sentences

During a series of hearings, witnesses called as development experts pored over maps of the campus to identify several parcels to spread the housing into separate villages.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

While for years China pressured North Korea to halt the development of nuclear weapons, it has recently stopped such demands, at least outwardly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Langston said despite the loss the cubs' mother, Tipah, has proven herself to be an "exceptional parent" throughout their development.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

The results highlighted an important role for FXR in the development of cardiovascular disease during sleep apnea-like conditions.

From Science Daily • Jun. 9, 2026

But the line from Vesalius to Harvey is so clear that it makes more sense to follow it to its logical conclusion now, before returning to the development of astronomy in the sixteenth century.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Related Words

• advancement
• evolution
• expansion
• improvement
• increase
• progress