develop

verb de·vel·op \ di-ˈvel-əp , dē- \

Updated on: 6 Apr 2018

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 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 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 2a

it developed that no one had paid the bill

—

developable

play \-ˈve-lə-pə-bəl\ adjective

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Examples of develop in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of develop from the Web

The bacteria can lie dormant in the concrete for decades and is completely harmless, according to Nele De Belie, a professor at Belgium's Ghent University who has worked on developing the concrete.

— sarah bowman, Indianapolis Star, "This is why bacteria could be the answer to your pothole prayers," 3 Apr. 2018
Singer thinks the course could become a leader in developing new golfers in Detroit.

— katrease stafford, Detroit Free Press, "What's the future of Detroit's golf courses? City eyes massive repairs," 2 Apr. 2018
Warmer air holds more moisture, which acts as fuel to developing showers.

— evan macdonald, cleveland.com, "Medical examiner identifies Akron man killed in shooting," 2 Apr. 2018
For example, although more than 30 genes have been implicated, even identical twins of T1D patients have only a 30 to 50 percent chance of developing it themselves.

— joshua tompkins, Los Angeles Magazine, "Could a Vaccine Be the End of Type 1 Diabetes?," 2 Apr. 2018
Strict vegetarians and vegans are also at a higher risk of developing a B12 deficiency than lacto-ovo vegetarians (vegetarians who still eat eggs and dairy products) and non-vegetarians, the NIH says.

— korin miller, Allure, "What You Should Know Before Taking Vitamin B12 Supplements," 31 Mar. 2018
Researchers have long dreamed of developing tiny robots that could roam about inside our bodies, delivering drugs with unprecedented precision, and hunting down and destroying cancer cells.

— NBC News, "These tiny robots could be disease-fighting machines inside the body," 30 Mar. 2018
Finck, of Hartford, is the surgeon-in-chief of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and focuses on developing new techniques for treating neonatal lung and esophageal defects.

— rebecca lurye, courant.com, "Meet The 13 Women Honored By Connecticut's Tech Community," 30 Mar. 2018
Diaz returns all three of his starting linebackers in Pinckney, Shaquille Quarterman and Zach McCloud, but the focus there shifts to developing the second and third teams.

— jordan mcpherson, miamiherald, "This was the punishment for the Hurricanes after their coach didn’t like their efforts | Miami Herald," 29 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'develop.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.