1
as in evolution
the act or process of going from the simple or basic to the complex or advanced
the development of an idea into a marketable product
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in outcome
a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause
a development that the writers of the law never anticipated or intended
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in growth
the process of becoming mature
a tulip's development from a bulb into a flower
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 development
Estefanía Martín As production and project development director at Grupo Macaronesia, Estefanía Martín occupies a quietly pivotal position in the Canary Islands’ audiovisual ecosystem.
—
Callum McLennan, Variety, 19 June 2026
Europe’s defense industry is accelerating the development of a new long-range cruise missile capable of striking targets more than 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) away.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 June 2026
One of the project’s most significant adversaries is the city of Sacramento — while the area is not under their governance, city officials argue the development would violate a decades-old habitat conservation agreement with the county.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026
Under that deal, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program and agreed not to pursue the development of a nuclear weapon.
—Natasha Lebedeva, NBC news, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for development
Callum McLennan, Variety, 19 June 2026
Europe’s defense industry is accelerating the development of a new long-range cruise missile capable of striking targets more than 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) away.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 19 June 2026
One of the project’s most significant adversaries is the city of Sacramento — while the area is not under their governance, city officials argue the development would violate a decades-old habitat conservation agreement with the county.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026
Under that deal, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program and agreed not to pursue the development of a nuclear weapon.
—Natasha Lebedeva, NBC news, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for development
Recent Examples of Synonyms for development
Noun
-
The backstory The Ranch’s history traces back to the early days of Yellowstone—in which the Ranch had a seat at the table when discussing the formation of the town of Big Sky, the evolution of ranching and logging in the Northern Rockies, and the region’s overall wilderness preservation.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
-
He is best known for proposing the theory of cosmic inflation, a concept that transformed modern understanding of the early universe and the evolution of the big bang.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Nonetheless, Ossoff will have to appeal to independents, who will decide the outcome, according to Charles Bullock, a University of Georgia political science professor and expert on Southern politics.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
Researchers have documented positive mental health outcomes associated with participating in BDSM play, including decreasing levels of cortisol, often called our stress hormone.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Russia is experiencing growth stagnation – even recession by some economists’ estimates – as well as rampant business closures and declining consumer confidence, Snegovaya said.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
Culture is a growth asset, not a soft benefit.—
Rhett Power,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
If discussions drift, gently redirect toward next actions and timelines, since specific promises turn goodwill into practical progress.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
-
After 50 military firefighters and 15 vehicles responded to the scene, the fire's progress was halted.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
In Geneva, Switzerland’s second-largest city and a hub of United Nations institutions and humanitarian groups, early results showed about two-thirds of voters in the region opposed the measure.—
Jamey Keaten,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
Sunday’s result will only increase that confidence.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Research has shown that raw cheese is not, in fact, resistant to pathogens; while aging can mitigate some risk, harmful bacteria can still survive the usual 60-day maturation process.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
The diurnal swing forces the whiskey deeper into the wood than typical Kentucky maturation, and the dry desert air drives evaporation hard.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Sports features prominently across day one, with JioStar sports and live experiences CEO Ishan Chatterjee examining sport as a platform for fandom, AI and commerce, followed by ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta on cricket’s global expansion and La Liga president Javier Tebas on fan engagement and enforcement.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
16 June 2026
-
When announcing its Ohio manufacturing expansion, Joby explicitly invoked the Wright brothers' legacy in Dayton.—
Randy Tucker,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Studies on footing ramped up in intensity after the 2004 Athens Olympics, a Games that was quickly defined by concerns around the intensity of the heat and the resultant firmness of the going at the grassed Markopoulo Arena.—
Tilly Berendt,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
-
This is because, as the authors of the study note, people holding grudges tend to feel a sense of righteousness surrounding their hurt, as well as with their experience of the resultant grudge itself.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Development.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/development. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
