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

In it, Leó, a renowned geriatrician specialized in Alzheimer’s disease, develops an unconventional friendship with Ásdís, a psychiatrist who’s returned to Iceland to care for her ailing grandmother. — Annika Pham, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Preeclampsia is hypertension that develops after 20 weeks and is accompanied by signs that other organs, such as the kidneys, are being affected. — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

There’s a sort of gravity that develops around superstars in situations like this. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

His company develops games for Roblox and Fortnite while working with creators who grew up inside those communities. — Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

When Paul develops an experimental drug that improves communication, his obsession to see Theo speak threatens to destroy his family. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026

Bass has opposed the law, arguing that Sacramento should not dictate how Los Angeles develops its neighborhoods. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026

Grupo Empresarial Geominero Salinero, or Geominsal, which develops and markets mineral resources and provides technical services to those industries, was also designated for sanctions Thursday. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

Shipboard sensors generate targeting information before the combat system develops a firing solution. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026