develop
verb
de·vel·op di-ˈve-ləp 
dē-
developed; developing; develops
transitive verb
1
a
: to set forth or make clear by degrees or in detail : expound
develop a thesis
b
: to make visible or manifest
developed the scene in her mind
c
dyeing : to treat with an agent to cause the appearance of color
d
photography : to subject (exposed material) especially to chemicals in order to produce a visible image
develop film
also : to make visible by such a method
develop pictures
e
: to elaborate (a musical idea) by the working out of rhythmic and harmonic changes in the theme (see theme sense 4)
2
a
: to work out the possibilities of
develop an idea
b
: to create or produce especially by deliberate effort over time
develop new ways of doing business
develop software
3
a
: to make active or promote the growth of
developed his muscles
developing your mental abilities
b(1)
: to make available or usable
develop natural resources
(2)
: to make suitable for commercial or residential purposes
develop land
c
games : to move (a chess piece) from the original position to one providing more opportunity for effective use
develop the rook
4
a
: to cause to evolve or unfold gradually : to lead or conduct (something) through a succession of states or changes each of which is preparatory for the next
developed his argument
b
: to expand by a process of growth
working to develop the company further
c
biology : to cause to grow and differentiate along lines natural to its kind
more rain will be needed to develop the plants properly
d
: to become infected or affected by
developed pneumonia
5
: to acquire gradually
develop an appreciation for ballet
intransitive verb
1
biology
a
: to go through a process of natural growth, differentiation (see differentiation sense 3), or evolution by successive changes
A blossom develops from a bud.
b
: to acquire secondary sex characteristics
the year that her breasts fully developed
2
: to become gradually manifest
the facts that developed over the next few days
3
: to come into being gradually
the situation developing in eastern Europe
also : turn out sense 2a
it developed that no one had paid the bill
developable
di-ˈve-lə-pə-bəl
adjective dē-
Synonyms
- elaborate
- evolve
- unfold
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She has been exercising regularly to develop her back muscles. The story was later developed into a novel. The island has developed its economy around tourism. The course is designed to develop your writing skills. A blossom develops from a bud. The doctor says that the child is developing normally. In this class, we will be learning about how languages develop. Scientists are developing a treatment for the disease. The company has developed a new method for recycling old tires. He develops the concept more fully in his book. See More
Recent Examples on the Web If both were to develop into a tropical storm, the first would be named Fiona and the latter would receive the moniker, Gaston. 
Joe Mario Pedersen, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 Then in the 1980s during the AIDS epidemic, gay men flocked to Miami Beach, and helped develop it into a global tourism and entertainment destination. Tim Craig, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 Stover could be part of that as a guy that could develop into a safety or a linebacker making the Bandit Safety role a solid position to project as in Knowles’ scheme. Stephen Means, cleveland, 8 Sep. 2022 Oregon isn’t going to develop its way into closing the gap between it and the top 2-3 teams in the country. oregonlive, 4 Sep. 2022 The next generation hatch and develop into adults by summer. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2022 The city was to develop into a globally important hub of electronic-parts makers. Chieko Tsuneoka, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 As of Wednesday had a medium chance (50 percent) to develop into a tropical depression. Leigh Morgan, al, 31 Aug. 2022 And meteorologists are currently tracking at least two storm systems in the center of the ocean that have the potential to develop into hurricanes. Tim Mcdonnell, Quartz, 30 Aug. 2022 See More
Joe Mario Pedersen, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 Then in the 1980s during the AIDS epidemic, gay men flocked to Miami Beach, and helped develop it into a global tourism and entertainment destination. Tim Craig, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 Stover could be part of that as a guy that could develop into a safety or a linebacker making the Bandit Safety role a solid position to project as in Knowles’ scheme. Stephen Means, cleveland, 8 Sep. 2022 Oregon isn’t going to develop its way into closing the gap between it and the top 2-3 teams in the country. oregonlive, 4 Sep. 2022 The next generation hatch and develop into adults by summer. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2022 The city was to develop into a globally important hub of electronic-parts makers. Chieko Tsuneoka, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 As of Wednesday had a medium chance (50 percent) to develop into a tropical depression. Leigh Morgan, al, 31 Aug. 2022 And meteorologists are currently tracking at least two storm systems in the center of the ocean that have the potential to develop into hurricanes. Tim Mcdonnell, Quartz, 30 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
French développer, from Old French desveloper, desvoluper to unwrap, expose, from des- de- + envoloper to enclose — more at envelop
First Known Use
1714, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing develop
Kids Definition
develop
verb
de·vel·op di-ˈve-ləp
developed; developing
1
: to make or become plain little by little : unfold
From the microscopic point of Boone's pencil there developed a most amazing scene. Lynne Reid Banks, The Indian in the Cupboard
Lynne Reid Banks, The Indian in the Cupboard2
: to apply chemicals to exposed photographic material (as a film) in order to bring out the picture
3
: to bring out the possibilities of : improve
develop an idea
4
: to make more available or usable
develop land
5
: to begin to have gradually
develop a cough
6
: to begin to exist or be present gradually
A romance developed between them.
7
: to create over time
develop new medicines
8
: to grow or cause to grow bigger, more mature, or more advanced
He's developing his muscles with exercise.
Medical Definition
develop
transitive verb
de·vel·op di-ˈvel-əp
1
a
: to make active or promote the growth of
developed their muscles by weight lifting
b
: to cause to grow and differentiate along lines natural to its kind
the zygote is gradually developed into the adult plant or animal
2
: to become infected or affected by
developed pneumonia
intransitive verb
1
: to go through a process of natural growth, differentiation, or evolution by successive stages
the fever develops normally
the embryo develops into a well-formed human being
2
: to acquire secondary sex characteristics
she is developing rapidly for a girl of 12
develops
verb
1
as in evolves
to gradually become clearer or more detailed as the story of the bombing developed, the scope of the tragedy became more apparent Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- evolves
- unfolds
- progresses
- grows
- elaborates
- emerges
- proceeds
- matures
- ripens
- forges
- blossoms
- marches
- fares
- advances
- materializes
- gets along
- gets on
- plays out
2
as in acquires
to come to have gradually the youngster developed a taste for green olives Synonyms & Similar Words
- acquires
- cultivates
- adopts
- forms
- gains
- gets
- obtains
- embraces
- achieves
- absorbs
- attains
- reaches
- promotes
- fosters
- takes in
- takes on
- nurtures
- nourishes
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loses
- abandons
- forsakes
- rejects
- sheds
- casts
- discards
- unloads
- deserts
- dumps
- ditches
- throws away
- throws out
- sloughs
- jettisons
- flings (off or away)
- scraps
- sluffs
- shucks (off)
- junks
3
as in grows
to become mature the wine is developing nicely in the new oak barrels Synonyms & Similar Words
- grows
- progresses
- matures
- ages
- ripens
- grows up
- evolves
- softens
- mellows
- flowers
- blossoms
- flourishes
- blooms
- unfolds
- burgeons
- opens
- bourgeons
- gets along
- advances
- gets on
- grays
- greys
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- deteriorates
- worsens
- decays
- declines
- weakens
- degenerates
- dries
- fades
- sinks
- shrivels
- wanes
- droops
- reverts
- sags
- regresses
- withers
- returns
- wastes (away)
- wilts
- flags
- lapses
- retrogresses
- backslides
4
as in expands
to express more fully and in greater detail marketing people developed the initial idea into a complete promotional campaign Synonyms & Similar Words
- expands
- supplements
- amplifies
- complements
- dilates (on or upon)
- fleshes (out)
- enlarges (on or upon)
- expatiates
- elaborates (on)
- adds (to)
- discourses
- rambles
- runs on
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- shortens
- condenses
- summarizes
- compresses
- outlines
- abbreviates
- abridges
- contracts
- sums up
5
as in forges
to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort outside consultants helped the company develop an effective marketing strategy Synonyms & Similar Words
- forges
- creates
- generates
- devises
- achieves
- crafts
- constructs
- works up
- composes
- hammers out
- brings forth
- invents
- carves (out)
- conceives
- works out
- originates
- manufactures
- grinds (out)
- engineers
- concocts
- thrashes (out)
- churns out
- forms
- accomplishes
- models
- shapes
- tailors
- cranks out
- effects
- hatches
- fabricates
- turns out
- throws up
- contrives
- fashions
- carries out
- mints
- cobbles (together or up)
- brings off
- cooks (up)
- frames
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- destroys
- dismantles
- demolishes
- tears down
- undoes
- razes
- ruins
- wrecks
- unmakes