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
Landay also says the role AI is playing in software development is overstated in the essay.
—
Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
And the bonds the four have built as friends and roommates extend to their development on the court.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The development is the final phase of the campus’s development, which was initiated in 2016.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 18 Feb. 2026
Often — and this feels like a development in the technique — her live character is filmed and somehow inserted into the background of the pre-recordings, alongside the other characters.
—Demetrios Matheou, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for development
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
And the bonds the four have built as friends and roommates extend to their development on the court.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The development is the final phase of the campus’s development, which was initiated in 2016.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 18 Feb. 2026
Often — and this feels like a development in the technique — her live character is filmed and somehow inserted into the background of the pre-recordings, alongside the other characters.
—Demetrios Matheou, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for development
Cite this Entry
“Development.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/development. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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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