Definition of developnext
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

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2
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4
as in to expand
to express more fully and in greater detail marketing people developed the initial idea into a complete promotional campaign

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of develop Cust started developing neurological symptoms such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) — a disorder that causes a racing heart, dizziness, and near-fainting episodes — that made basic daily tasks nearly impossible. Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026 Courts will need to develop clear standards for when a threat is specific enough to trigger a duty to warn, and to whom any warning or protective action should be directed. Anat Lior, Fortune, 30 May 2026 This is a developing story and may be updated. Katie Langford, Denver Post, 30 May 2026 Stanley Plotkin, 93, was instrumental in developing a number of vaccines over the course of his career. Diana Gitig, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for develop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for develop
Verb
  • With a particular emphasis on Europe and China, this quickly evolved into the idea of a creative residency to support Chinese design talent through the Kering ecosystem.
    Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 4 June 2026
  • Demie worked closely with the show’s makeup and wardrobe stylists to craft Maddy’s look, helping the character evolve from someone obsessed with being the perfect girlfriend in the first half of Season 1, to a bolder, hyper-feminine rejection of the softness her boyfriend had expected of her.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • Then, instead of purely aiming for prospect capital, the club could use some of these players to acquire a big league hitter or two who can actually improve the lineup.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
  • Combs’ team claims the footage was acquired illegally, sending Netflix a cease-and-desist ahead of The Reckoning’s release.
    Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • All the back-and-forth came to an ice-cold end to start the second half as the Knicks only mustered two points through the first five minutes of the third quarter, as the Spurs’ lead grew to as many as 14.
    Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
  • The growing dependence on OpenAI has also raised questions over what happens if enthusiasm surrounding AI valuations cools.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • The deal with Curry, who is a household name in China, is expected to further boost Li-Ning’s popularity in the country and help expand the brand’s market share in the US.
    John Liu, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
  • By greatly expanding the dimensions of his images, with their muted palettes, tight cropping, found symmetries, and laconic wit, had the maestro of the photographic epigram betrayed his subtractive aesthetic?
    James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • The pair also forged AlHusseini’s bank and brokerage statements to inflate his assets by millions of dollars to help get the loans, prosecutors said.
    Andrea Klick, Oc Register, 2 June 2026
  • David Halberstam, who announced Heat games on radio for six seasons and then forged a long career as a broadcasting executive and media critic, died this week after a long battle with brain cancer.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • All of it unfolded with Drew Rasmussen ready to take the mound and Angels leadoff hitter Zach Neto standing in the batter’s box awaiting the first pitch.
    Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
  • Which made what unfolded Saturday afternoon at UC San Diego all the sweeter.
    Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • One of the best ways to assuage those feelings of mom guilt is to be intentional about cultivating things that are just for you.
    Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 4 June 2026
  • Philosophers, theologians and educators have long considered patience an important character trait to cultivate.
    Christian B. Miller, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • As the journey progresses, a male driver and his female companion (neither pictured on-screen) begin to discuss the Winkie.
    Jonathan Odden, Artforum, 2 June 2026
  • And then progress and performance slow down in production, when teams encounter obstacles like security, access control, compliance steps, data ownership and integration with existing systems.
    Ashwin Gaidhani, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Develop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/develop. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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