developing
Americanadjective
-
undergoing development; growing; evolving.
-
(of a nation or geographical area) having a standard of living or level of industrial production well below that possible with financial or technical aid; not yet highly industrialized.
the developing world.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of developing
Explanation
Use the adjective developing to describe a country that's relatively poor and has a lower standard of living than most other countries in the world. There's not a specific standard for calling a country developing, but there are some societies that most of the world agrees are less industrialized than most. Developing countries generally have poorer people and a less vibrant economy than more developed countries. Some countries object to being called developing, since it implies that all countries want to become "developed," or more Western in their economy and government, which is not necessarily true.
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.
Rather than offering investors a taxable dividend, Wagner said Nvidia is spending on developing its hardware, securing its technology ecosystem and investing in partnerships to deploy multiple gigawatts of its chips.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
“The outlook is most challenging for fuel- and food-importing developing economies, where surging import costs risk widening fiscal deficits, straining external balances, and deepening food insecurity,” the body said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
"Therefore, understanding the mechanisms connecting inflammaging, immune system alterations, bone health and frailty is essential for developing targeted interventions to improve the quality of life in aging populations."
From Science Daily • May 19, 2026
An American citizen, believed to be missionary group doctor Peter Stafford, is being evacuated from DR Congo after developing symptoms over the weekend.
From BBC • May 19, 2026
Marco hands him one, and Mr. Barris begins drawing, taking the rudimentary sketch of the circus’s layout and developing it into a complex design.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
