develop

[ dih-vel-uhp ]

/ dɪˈvɛl əp /

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See synonyms for: develop / developed / developing / develops on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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.

to cause to grow or expand: to develop one's muscles.

to elaborate or expand in detail: to develop a theory.

to bring into being or activity; generate; evolve.

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.

Biology.

to cause to go through the process of natural evolution from a previous and lower stage.
to cause to progress from an embryonic to an adult form.

Mathematics. to express in an extended form, as in a series.

Music. to unfold, by various technical means, the inherent possibilities of (a theme).

Photography.

to render visible (the latent image on an exposed film or the like).
to treat (an exposed film or the like) with chemicals so as to render the latent image visible.

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.

Mining. to prepare (a new mine) for working by digging access openings and building necessary structures.

verb (used without object)

to grow into a more mature or advanced state; advance; expand: She is developing into a good reporter.

to come gradually into existence or operation; be evolved.

to be disclosed; become evident or manifest: The plot of the novel developed slowly.

to undergo developing, as a photographic film.

Biology.

to progress from an embryonic to an adult form.
to progress from earlier to later stages of ontogeny or phylogeny.
to reach sexual maturity.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of develop

First recorded in 1585–95; from Middle French développer, Old French desveloper, equivalent to des- dis-¹ + voloper “to wrap up”; see envelop

OTHER WORDS FROM develop

de·vel·op·a·ble, adjectivede·vel·op·a·bil·i·ty, nounhalf-de·vel·oped, adjectivehy·per·de·vel·oped, adjective

mis·de·vel·op, verbnon·de·vel·op·a·ble, adjectivepre·de·vel·op, verbun·de·vel·op·a·ble, adjectivewell-de·vel·oped, adjective

Words nearby develop

devastating, devastation, de Vega, devein, devel., develop, developable surface, developer, developing, developing agent, developing country

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use develop in a sentence

People learn to play, the game attracts new talent, and people start developing strategies.
This scientist thought he’d found the source of all sexual energy|PopSci Staff|September 17, 2020|Popular-Science
The Democratic presidential nominee said he is “more hopeful than ever in the power of science” to develop a vaccine.
Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine; Biden says Americans shouldn’t trust Trump|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
It’s going to be — it’s going to be herd-developed, and that’s going to happen.
The problem with Trump’s ‘herd mentality’ line isn’t the verbal flub. It’s the mass death.|Philip Bump|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
Paulson also worked closely with the costume team to develop a signature look for Mildred Ratched.
‘Ratched’ brings back iconic cinematic villain|Brian T. Carney|September 16, 2020|Washington Blade

All of the world’s major developed currencies have gained against the dollar as have precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum.
Ray Dalio issues stark warning about U.S. dollar’s future as global reserve currency|Claire Zillman, reporter|September 16, 2020|Fortune
Though conversational and often witty, his meandering phrases become increasingly unpredictable as they develop.
The Lost Novel of Nobel-Winner José Saramago|Charles Shafaieh|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Therefore, we should—you guessed it—develop the Canadian tar sands and build the Keystone pipeline.
How Canadian Oilmen Pinkwash the Keystone Pipeline|Jay Michaelson|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Encompass Develop, Design Construct, LLC A Kentucky-based architect, design and construction service.
The 26 Next Hobby Lobbys|Abby Haglage|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I'm not sure whether we'd ever develop two different versions simultaneously.
Exclusive: Sony Emails Reveal Channing Tatum and Chris Pratt’s Plans For ‘Ghostbusters’ Film|William Boot|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There are some potential solutions, but all of them mean spending more money to develop new missiles.
Pentagon Worries That Russia Can Now Outshoot U.S. Stealth Jets|Dave Majumdar|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We must have motif first, then technique to adapt and adjust expression and to develop facility in the active agents.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
A culture which was complete one thousand years before Adam must have needed many thousands of years to develop.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
In one case, however, I have succeeded in getting drawings of a little girl who was carefully left to develop her own ideas.
Children's Ways|James Sully
It is much easier to strike quickly than slowly, but practice in the slow movement will develop both muscular and nervous power.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
Outside the body the rhabditiform embryos develop into a free-living, sexually differentiated generation.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd

British Dictionary definitions for develop

develop

/ (dɪˈvɛləp) /

verb

to come or bring to a later or more advanced or expanded stage; grow or cause to grow gradually

(tr) to elaborate or work out in detail

to disclose or unfold (thoughts, a plot, etc) gradually or (of thoughts, etc) to be gradually disclosed or unfolded

to come or bring into existence; generate or be generatedhe developed a new faith in God

(intr often foll by from) to follow as a result (of); ensue (from)a row developed following the chairman's remarks

(tr) to contract (a disease or illness)

(tr) to improve the value or change the use of (land), as by building

(tr) to exploit or make available the natural resources of (a country or region)

(tr) photog

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
to process (photographic material) in order to produce negatives and prints

biology to progress or cause to progress from simple to complex stages in the growth of an individual or the evolution of a species

(tr) to elaborate upon (a musical theme) by varying the melody, key, etc

(tr) maths to expand (a function or expression) in the form of a series

(tr) geometry to project or roll out (a surface) onto a plane without stretching or shrinking any element

chess to bring (a piece) into play from its initial position on the back rank

(tr) obsolete to disclose or reveal

Derived forms of develop

developable, adjective

Word Origin for develop

C19: from Old French desveloper to unwrap, from des- dis- 1 + veloper to wrap; see envelop

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

develop

Origin of develop

OTHER WORDS FROM develop

Words nearby develop

Words related to develop

How to use develop in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for develop

Derived forms of develop

Word Origin for develop