development
Americannoun
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developments
plural
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the act or process of developing; growth; progress.
child development; economic development.
- Synonyms:
- maturation, opening, evolution, growth, elaboration, expansion
- Antonyms:
- disintegration, deterioration
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a significant consequence or event.
recent developments in the field of science.
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a developed or advanced state or form.
Drama reached its highest development in the plays of Shakespeare.
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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.
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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
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Chess. the act or process of developing chess pieces.
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Mining. the work of digging openings, as tunnels, raises, and winzes, to give access to new workings, and of erecting necessary structures.
noun
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the act or process of growing, progressing, or developing
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the product or result of developing
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a fact, event, or happening, esp one that changes a situation
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an area or tract of land that has been developed
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Also called: development section. the section of a movement, usually in sonata form, in which the basic musical themes are developed
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chess
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the process of developing pieces
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the manner in which they are developed
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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
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hyperdevelopmentnoun
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nondevelopmentnoun
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predevelopmentnoun
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self-developmentnoun
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subdevelopmentnoun
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superdevelopmentnoun
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undevelopmentnoun
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antidevelopmentadjective
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developmentaladjective
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developmentaryadjective
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hyperdevelopmentaladjective
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nondevelopmentaladjective
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postdevelopmentaladjective
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undevelopmentaladjective
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developmentallyadverb
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nondevelopmentallyadverb
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undevelopmentallyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Vocabulary lists containing development
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 6
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The SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words, List 5
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 4
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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:
“From a cultural and marketing standpoint,” much of the ETF industry’s product development over the last year has been “highly speculative” or akin to gambling, Nadig said.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 10, 2026
A sliver of meadow and trees on the edge of Yosemite National Park has become an unlikely battleground over whether development is allowed in national parks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
"The findings could help inform environmental impact assessments and noise management as shipping, coastal development and offshore industries expand," he said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
The future moves faster than a film in development.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
At that point President Truman ordered the development of the even more powerful hydrogen bomb.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
The developments come as top oil officials warn that global stockpiles are running low, meaning governments' ability to withstand the impact of the crisis is waning.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
Kirin Holdings said: "At present, the impact of this matter on the company's financial results has not been determined. The company will promptly disclose any material developments as they arise."
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
The remarks also came far in advance of the next meeting, before new economic developments could materialize.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
“The financial impact remains uncertain and is subject to gas prices, contractual developments, and the implementation of a long-term solution.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
Those developments include religious warfare, the notion that land should be private property, the concept of white supremacy, and the desire for gold.
From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
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.
