development

noun

de·​vel·​op·​ment di-ˈve-ləp-mənt How to pronounce development (audio)
dē-
Synonyms of developmentnext
1
: the act, process, or result of developing
the development of new ideas
an interesting development in the case
2
: the state of being developed
a project in development
3
: a tract of land that has been made available or usable : a developed tract of land
especially : one with houses built on it

Examples of development in a Sentence

Good nutrition is important for proper muscle development. The company offers many opportunities for professional development. The software is still in the early stages of development. I try to keep up with the latest developments in computer technology. Have there been any new developments in the case?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
States like California, Maryland, and Colorado are beginning to recognize this by experimenting with models that treat volunteerism as workforce development, not merely civic goodwill. Cat Ward, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026 Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said advanced construction technologies form a key pillar of Dubai’s development strategy. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026 The former chairman of College Park’s development authority executed unlawful agreements that resulted in questionable payments totaling more than $548,000 to a real estate company, according to an investigation by the development authority’s lawyer. Reed Williams, AJC.com, 28 Jan. 2026 The populist leader’s government has insisted Pride — which is a celebration of LGBTQ+ visibility and struggle for equal rights — was a violation of children’s rights to moral and spiritual development. Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for development

Word History

Etymology

see develop

First Known Use

1724, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of development was in 1724

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Development.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/development. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

development

noun
de·​vel·​op·​ment di-ˈvel-əp-mənt How to pronounce development (audio)
1
: the act, process, or result of developing
2
: the state of being developed
3
: a developed piece of land
especially : one that has houses built on it

Medical Definition

development

noun
de·​vel·​op·​ment di-ˈvel-əp-mənt How to pronounce development (audio)
1
: the action or process of developing: as
a
: the process of growth and differentiation by which the potentialities of a zygote, spore, or embryo are realized
b
: the gradual advance through evolutionary stages : evolution
2
: the state of being developed
the great muscular development of weight lifters
developmental adjective
developmentally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on development

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