Synonyms of develops

develops

verb

present tense third-person singular of develop

1

as in unfolds

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

• unfolds
• evolves
• progresses
• grows
• elaborates
• emerges
• proceeds
• matures
• ripens
• marches
• fares
• gets on
• advances
• forges
• materializes
• gets along
• plays out
• blossoms

2

as in acquires

to come to have gradually

the youngster developed a taste for green olives

Synonyms & Similar Words

• acquires
• cultivates
• gets
• adopts
• forms
• gains
• obtains
• embraces
• reaches
• absorbs
• achieves
• attains
• promotes
• takes on
• takes in
• fosters
• nurtures
• nourishes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loses
• abandons
• forsakes
• rejects
• sheds
• deserts
• casts
• discards
• unloads
• ditches
• dumps
• sloughs
• throws away
• throws out
• flings (off or away)
• scraps
• jettisons
• shucks (off)
• junks

3

as in grows

to become mature

the wine is developing nicely in the new oak barrels

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grows
• progresses
• ages
• matures
• ripens
• grows up
• evolves
• softens
• flowers
• flourishes
• mellows
• unfolds
• blooms
• opens
• blossoms
• burgeons
• gets along
• advances
• gets on
• grays

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deteriorates
• worsens
• decays
• declines
• degenerates
• weakens
• sinks
• dries
• fades
• wanes
• shrivels
• droops
• sags
• reverts
• withers
• regresses
• returns
• wastes (away)
• flags
• wilts
• lapses
• retrogresses
• backslides

4

as in expands

to express more fully and in greater detail

marketing people developed the initial idea into a complete promotional campaign

Synonyms & Similar Words

• expands
• supplements
• amplifies
• complements
• enlarges (on or upon)
• elaborates (on)
• adds (to)
• dilates (on or upon)
• fleshes (out)
• expatiates
• runs on
• discourses
• rambles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shortens
• condenses
• summarizes
• compresses
• outlines
• contracts
• abbreviates
• abridges
• sums up

5

as in forges

to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort

outside consultants helped the company develop an effective marketing strategy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• forges
• creates
• generates
• achieves
• devises
• carves (out)
• constructs
• crafts
• works up
• grinds (out)
• composes
• brings forth
• hammers out
• works out
• invents
• conceives
• thrashes (out)
• engineers
• manufactures
• originates
• forms
• models
• concocts
• accomplishes
• shapes
• turns out
• churns out
• tailors
• throws up
• fabricates
• hatches
• carries out
• contrives
• cranks out
• effects
• fashions
• cooks (up)
• cobbles (together or up)
• mints
• frames
• brings off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• destroys
• dismantles
• demolishes
• tears down
• undoes
• ruins
• razes
• wrecks
• unmakes

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of develops

Schoenmaker will oversee ReturnPro’s international corporate strategy and go-to-market approach, build its commercial organization and support mergers and acquisitions as the company develops its overseas business. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026

That input comes at an important moment, as Connecticut develops its 2027–2032 State Cancer Action Plan. — Vidya Puthenpura, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026

With vegetation and soils extremely dry, any grass fire that develops could spread quickly. — Nelly Carreño, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026

City staff and consultants are working on recommendations that could affect how downtown develops, including where housing and other uses may be located and how future buildings and development are designed. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026

The weapons work addresses an important part of the CCA effort as the Air Force develops uncrewed aircraft that can perform missions alongside existing fighters. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026

The International Energy Agency estimates that oil flows out of the Gulf won’t return to normal until 2027, and even this date is a projection that could shift further into the future based on how the regional situation develops. — Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

The responsibility of nonprofit leadership is to ensure that institutional governance develops alongside it. — Ekramy El Zaghat, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Their paths cross during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, and what begins as an unexpected romance develops into an impossible love that must navigate public scrutiny, royal tradition, and the expectations of the Swedish monarchy. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026