develop

play

verb de·vel·op \ di-ˈvel-əp , dē- \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of develop

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

See develop defined for English-language learners

See develop defined for kids

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 Warriors were sitting pretty Tuesday, having won the first game of their match at Batavia and then holding a 19-11 lead in the second game before that bag developed a tear.

— rick armstrong, Naperville Sun, "Strong finish against Batavia bodes well for Gisela Bode, Waubonsie Valley," 29 Aug. 2017
The state plans to work with three teams to develop, design and construct the bridge.

— john sharp, AL.com, "Few answers exist on how to pay for I-10 Bridge project as Alabama turns to the private sector," 28 Aug. 2017
American researchers are increasingly going offshore to developing countries to conduct clinical trials, citing rising domestic costs.

— marisa taylor, Kaiser Health News, "Offshore Human Testing Of Herpes Vaccine Stokes Debate Over U.S. Safety Rules," 28 Aug. 2017
Develop and execute Congressional and public diplomacy efforts to builddomestic and foreign support.

— john r. bolton, National Review, "How to Get Out of the Iran Nuclear Deal," 28 Aug. 2017
Humans aren’t the only ones who sometimes find themselves in need of Plan B: Some female wolf spiders have developed a natural strategy for killing off unwanted sperm after a male has deposited it in their body.

— joshua rapp learn, Smithsonian, "Whoa: Polygamous Wolf Spiders Have a Natural Form of Birth Control," 23 Aug. 2017
In addition, a study published in the Journal of Contemporary Psychology, found that dads may play a role in whether or not girls develop eating disorders during this period.

— charlotte andersen, Redbook, "Fathers Have An Even Greater Influence on Daughters Than You May Realize," 22 Aug. 2017
The new Bedtime Calculator was developed by the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project, in partnership with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control.

— Southern Living, "This ‘Bedtime Calculator’ Tells You Exactly When Your Kids Should Go to Bed," 22 Aug. 2017
In June, he was hospitalized in Las Vegas after developing a urinary tract infection.

— mike miller, EW.com, "Jerry Lewis died from heart failure: coroner," 22 Aug. 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of develop

French développer, from Old French desveloper, desvoluper to unwrap, expose, from des- de- + envoloper to enclose — more at envelop

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1714

See Words from the same year

develop Synonyms

Synonyms

elaborate, evolve, unfold

Antonyms

lose

Related Words

advance, fare, forge, get along, get on, march, proceed, progress; blossom, grow, mature, ripen; materialize; emerge, play out

Near Antonyms

abandon, desert, forsake; cast, discard, ditch, dump, fling (off or away), jettison, junk, reject, scrap, shed, shuck (off), slough (also sluff), throw away, throw out, unload

DEVELOP Defined for English Language Learners

develop

play

verb

Definition of develop for English Language Learners

: to cause (something) to grow or become bigger or more advanced
: to grow or become bigger or more advanced
: to create (something) over a period of time

DEVELOP Defined for Kids

develop

play

verb de·vel·op \ di-ˈve-ləp \

Definition of develop for Students

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

2 :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.

—

developer

noun

Medical Dictionary

develop

play

transitive verb de·vel·op \ di-ˈvel-əp \

medical Definition of develop

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

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develop

Definition of develop

developable

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Examples of develop in a Sentence

Recent Examples of develop from the Web

Origin and Etymology of develop

develop Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

DEVELOP Defined for English Language Learners

develop

Definition of develop for English Language Learners

DEVELOP Defined for Kids

develop

Definition of develop for Students

developer

Medical Dictionary

develop

medical Definition of develop

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