development

noun

di-ˈve-ləp-mənt How to pronounce development (audio)
Definition of developmentnext
1
as in evolution
the act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced the development of an idea into a marketable product

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in outcome
a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause a development that the writers of the law never anticipated or intended

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in growth
the process of becoming mature a tulip's development from a bulb into a flower

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of development Microduck is both an interactive consumer toy and a development platform. — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026 With Pataaka now open, Midtown’s Spring Quarter development has become a dining destination unto itself. — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Suzhou will welcome its first Hongkong Land project, SZ Central, in early 2027, a waterfront development that will house the city’s second Louis Vuitton store. — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 Early in my career, that combination of intentional development and networking led me to my destination. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for development
Recent Examples of Synonyms for development
  1. evolution
  2. outcome
  3. growth
  4. progress
  5. result
  6. maturation
  7. expansion
  8. resultant
Noun
  • This thoughtful evolution ensures this year’s NBC ceremony and future broadcasts remain deeply engaging and tailored to the television audience.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Rockstar has said absolutely nothing about GTA 6 Online, an evolution of GTA 5 Online and what will be a deluge of revenue after its release.
    — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of evolution
Noun
  • Channel 4 insiders are certainly not unhappy with the outcome.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Such an outcome would amount to a transformation in the transatlantic alliance.
    — JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of outcome
Noun
  • The statement win comes after a year of steady growth under head coach Jacody Coleman, who was hired ahead of the 2025 season.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The site now housing 111 employees is part of the bank’s plan for growth in the Charlotte region.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of growth
Noun
  • The latest operation came a day after Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said progress in improving ties with Afghanistan hinged on actions and assurances from Kabul.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • However, neither Putin nor Sybiha cited specific reasons to expect progress; on the contrary, the Kremlin leader said Ukraine’s latest actions presented an obstacle.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of progress
Noun
  • That result allows the cell to be classified as all-solid-state under the Chinese standard.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The result looks less like a blade simply ground into shape and more like a form sculpted directly from solid steel.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of result
Noun
  • The Balvenie Eighty-Eight-Year-Old was distilled on March 5, 1931, and spent its entire maturation lifespan in a European oak sherry butt from Jerez, Spain (cask #239).
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2026
  • For industry, the task entails the identification of quantum-relevant applications prior to the technology’s maturation, rather than waiting until a mature quantum computer is developed.
    — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of maturation
Noun
  • After expansion, 5 °C (41 °F) deep seawater cools the ammonia in a condenser, and a pump returns the liquid ammonia.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026
  • For a culture fix, cross the bridge to the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach, which recently underwent an expansion in 2019 led by architect Lord Norman Foster.
    — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of expansion
Noun
  • Ilie and Ghodla modeled the environment in which the resultant black hole seeds would exist and merge, calculating merger rates and the influence on the gravitational wave background.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • No other spacecraft has ever descended into the moon’s shadowy south polar craters, although NASA did crash a rocket into one in 2009 and watched a resultant plume of water vapor burst out.
    — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of resultant

Browse Nearby Words

developing
development
developmental
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Development.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/development. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All