development
noun
de·vel·op·ment
di-ˈve-ləp-mənt 
dē-
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
Neighbors for a Better San Diego, a group that represents mostly single-family homeowners and opposes nearby higher-density development, criticized the report for not tracking how many homes get demolished to make way for new projects.
—
David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
The assessment found that PFNA interferes with human development by causing lower birth weights and, based on animal evidence, likely causes damage to the liver and to male reproductive systems, including reductions in testosterone levels, sperm production and the size of reproductive organs.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2025
Yet his leadership mirrors the company’s culture, with a people-development system that feels more like that of a university than a logistics giant.
—Samuel Burke, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
The experimental technique is one of a series of exciting developments that are helping bridge the signal from brain to body.
—Merrill Fabry, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for development
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David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
The assessment found that PFNA interferes with human development by causing lower birth weights and, based on animal evidence, likely causes damage to the liver and to male reproductive systems, including reductions in testosterone levels, sperm production and the size of reproductive organs.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2025
Yet his leadership mirrors the company’s culture, with a people-development system that feels more like that of a university than a logistics giant.
—Samuel Burke, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
The experimental technique is one of a series of exciting developments that are helping bridge the signal from brain to body.
—Merrill Fabry, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for development
Cite this Entry
“Development.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/development. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
development
noun
de·vel·op·ment
di-ˈvel-əp-mənt
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
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
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