Synonyms of develop

develop

verb

di-ˈve-ləp 

1

as in to evolve

to gradually become clearer or more detailed

as the story of the bombing developed, the scope of the tragedy became more apparent

Synonyms & Similar Words

• evolve
• unfold
• grow
• progress
• proceed
• elaborate
• emerge
• mature
• forge
• get along
• get on
• advance
• march
• ripen
• blossom
• fare
• materialize
• play out

2

as in to acquire

to come to have gradually

the youngster developed a taste for green olives

Synonyms & Similar Words

• acquire
• cultivate
• gain
• form
• get
• adopt
• obtain
• achieve
• embrace
• attain
• absorb
• reach
• promote
• take on
• take in
• foster
• nurture
• nourish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lose
• abandon
• forsake
• shed
• reject
• desert
• unload
• discard
• cast
• ditch
• dump
• throw away
• throw out
• scrap
• fling (off or away)
• jettison
• slough
• shuck (off)
• junk

3

as in to grow

to become mature

the wine is developing nicely in the new oak barrels

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grow
• progress
• mature
• grow up
• age
• ripen
• evolve
• soften
• flower
• blossom
• flourish
• bloom
• open
• mellow
• get along
• unfold
• get on
• gray
• advance
• burgeon

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deteriorate
• worsen
• decline
• degenerate
• weaken
• sink
• decay
• dry
• fade
• wilt
• waste (away)
• revert
• shrivel
• wither
• wane
• return
• sag
• regress
• flag
• droop
• lapse
• retrogress
• backslide

4

as in to expand

to express more fully and in greater detail

marketing people developed the initial idea into a complete promotional campaign

Synonyms & Similar Words

• expand
• supplement
• amplify
• flesh (out)
• complement
• enlarge (on or upon)
• elaborate (on)
• add (to)
• dilate (on or upon)
• run on
• expatiate
• discourse
• ramble

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shorten
• condense
• contract
• summarize
• compress
• outline
• abridge
• abbreviate
• sum up

5

as in to forge

to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort

outside consultants helped the company develop an effective marketing strategy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• forge
• create
• devise
• generate
• construct
• achieve
• craft
• grind (out)
• carve (out)
• work up
• bring forth
• compose
• work out
• hammer out
• thrash (out)
• invent
• form
• engineer
• conceive
• accomplish
• manufacture
• model
• originate
• tailor
• shape
• carry out
• throw up
• churn out
• turn out
• concoct
• crank out
• hatch
• effect
• mint
• contrive
• fabricate
• fashion
• cook (up)
• cobble (together or up)
• frame
• bring off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• destroy
• dismantle
• demolish
• tear down
• ruin
• raze
• undo
• wreck
• unmake

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of develop

His career may have developed differently from artists dependent on constant mainstream radio play, but his fans (commonly called Technicians) argue that independence never meant irrelevance. — J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026

The report suggests considering inventory exposure, material-supply risk, and residual value, then developing responses with both economic and ecological validity. — Cleo Levin, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026

After a period of over-the-limit warming, the new strategy envisions getting back below the limit by ending fossil fuel use and developing some kind of way to suck industries' carbon dioxide out of the air. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026

Founded in 1999, Bionaut’s animation activities have been developing since 2015. — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026