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

On July 2, Rubio said the State Department is developing a more streamlined system that would allow Americans to more easily take and upload passport photos using their phones or computers. — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 9 July 2026

But Canada has plans to launch hundreds of new satellites to safeguard its national sovereignty, reducing reliance on Washington, and the European Union is developing its own network of 290 satellites. — Amy Gunia, CNN Money, 9 July 2026

To develop the system, Earth Fire Alliance conducted hundreds of interviews firefighters, incident commanders and scientists worldwide to identify gaps in existing fire data, Kapusta said. — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026

Electrical architecture evolves Latecoere will develop WindRunner’s Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS), the network that distributes power and connects electrical equipment throughout the aircraft. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026