develop
Americanverb (used with object)
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develops,
present (3rd person singular)
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developed,
past participle, past
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developing
present participle
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to bring out the capabilities or possibilities of; bring to a more advanced or effective state.
to develop natural resources; to develop one's musical talent.
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to cause to grow or expand.
to develop one's muscles.
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to elaborate or expand in detail.
to develop a theory.
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to bring into being or activity; generate; evolve.
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Drafting. to transfer the details of (a more or less two-dimensional design, pattern, or the like) from one surface, especially one that is prismatic or cylindrical, onto another, usually planar, in such a way that the distances between points remain the same.
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Biology.
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to cause to go through the process of natural evolution from a previous and lower stage.
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to cause to progress from an embryonic to an adult form.
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Mathematics. to express in an extended form, as in a series.
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Music. to unfold, by various technical means, the inherent possibilities of (a theme).
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Photography.
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to render visible (the latent image on an exposed film or the like).
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to treat (an exposed film or the like) with chemicals so as to render the latent image visible.
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Chess. to bring (a piece) into effective play, especially during the initial phase of a game when pieces are moved from their original position on the board.
He developed his rook by castling.
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Mining. to prepare (a new mine) for working by digging access openings and building necessary structures.
verb (used without object)
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develops,
present (3rd person singular)
-
developed,
past participle, past
-
developing
present participle
-
to grow into a more mature or advanced state; advance; expand.
She is developing into a good reporter.
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to come gradually into existence or operation; be evolved.
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to be disclosed; become evident or manifest.
The plot of the novel developed slowly.
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to undergo developing, as a photographic film.
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Biology.
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to progress from an embryonic to an adult form.
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to progress from earlier to later stages of ontogeny or phylogeny.
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to reach sexual maturity.
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verb
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to come or bring to a later or more advanced or expanded stage; grow or cause to grow gradually
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(tr) to elaborate or work out in detail
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to disclose or unfold (thoughts, a plot, etc) gradually or (of thoughts, etc) to be gradually disclosed or unfolded
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to come or bring into existence; generate or be generated
he developed a new faith in God
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to follow as a result (of); ensue (from)
a row developed following the chairman's remarks
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(tr) to contract (a disease or illness)
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(tr) to improve the value or change the use of (land), as by building
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(tr) to exploit or make available the natural resources of (a country or region)
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(tr) photog
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to treat (film, plate, or paper previously exposed to light, or the latent image in such material) with chemical solutions in order to produce a visible image
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to process (photographic material) in order to produce negatives and prints
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biology to progress or cause to progress from simple to complex stages in the growth of an individual or the evolution of a species
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(tr) to elaborate upon (a musical theme) by varying the melody, key, etc
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(tr) maths to expand (a function or expression) in the form of a series
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(tr) geometry to project or roll out (a surface) onto a plane without stretching or shrinking any element
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chess to bring (a piece) into play from its initial position on the back rank
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obsolete (tr) to disclose or reveal
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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developabilitynoun
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misdevelopverb
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predevelopverb
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developableadjective
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half-developedadjective
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hyperdevelopedadjective
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nondevelopableadjective
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undevelopableadjective
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well-developedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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developsimple
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developssimple
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have developedperfect
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has developedperfect
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am developingprogressive
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are developingprogressive
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is developingprogressive
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have been developingperfect progressive
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has been developingperfect progressive
Past
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developedsimple
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had developedperfect
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was developingprogressive
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were developingprogressive
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had been developingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of develop
First recorded in 1585–95; from Middle French développer, Old French desveloper, equivalent to des- dis- 1 ( def. ) + voloper “to wrap up”; see envelop ( def. )
Explanation
When something develops, it grows. And if you develop something, you create it. Your cold might develop into a rare disease, and you might just develop the vaccine to stop its spread. Develop is a verb that means to build up, grow, or improve gradually over time. A developer is someone who develops land into shopping malls, schools, and skyscrapers. The process can take months, but eventually they will transform a pile of dirt into a building. Many years ago, people would develop photographs by dipping them into various chemicals. As the pictures developed, an image would gradually appear.
Vocabulary lists containing develop
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The findings could help scientists develop strategies to address Alzheimer's risk long before memory problems appear.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026
Alphabet’s Google will invest $15 billion in Malaysia over 2027 and 2028 to expand its digital infrastructure, develop local talent and support clean-energy and water initiatives.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
Her work focuses on identifying changes in the brain that occur before Alzheimer's symptoms develop and finding ways to intervene early.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026
The company also signed a big contract in a joint venture with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to develop two new-generation DDX destroyers for the Italian navy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
The social workers that she confided in invariably suggested that she enroll Bobby in a small private school where he could receive closer attention and where he could develop at his own pace.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
The polar vortex develops every autumn as temperatures fall in the Arctic.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
Mr. Grant is one of the most charming human beings alive, and his voiceover narration as he develops from cad to dad is dryly hilarious.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
“There is a scenario where AI, as it gains intelligence, also develops consciousness. But this is not inevitable,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026
Rather than simply relocating, at least some blue cones may undergo a change in identity, becoming red or green cones as the eye develops.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026
This must be where Jeanine develops the simulation serums.
From "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth
Wiles, who co-managed the president's successful 2024 re-election campaign, developed a reputation as a cool professional who avoided the White House staffing upheavals, dramatic policy reversals and personality clashes that typified Trump's first presidential term.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
Germany's carmakers are now trying to shift engineering east, both to stay competitive in the Chinese market as well as to integrate technologies developed there into cars sold abroad.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
He said Meiser had developed a rapport with many of the inmates.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
Beijing is seeking to keep AI data and expertise developed at home from leaking abroad.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
Using the most sophisticated underwater metal detectors ever developed, the team uncovered solid indications of the presence of at least seven statues, buried deep under the seabed.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
Melt has become enough of a problem that administrators are developing strategies on how to fight it year-round.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
"You can imagine the effect it has on a developing brain, being in that environment for years at a time."
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
More research will be needed to determine whether the changes in brain blood flow lead to lasting improvements in brain health or a lower likelihood of developing the disease.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026
Biondich is, for now, moving forward with the Sanctuary name, even developing an app that will bring augmented reality monsters to the venue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
Today’s affluent societies are in the throes of a plague of obesity, which is rapidly spreading to developing countries.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
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