developed

1 of 2

adjective

de·​vel·​oped di-ˈve-ləpt 

dē-

: having a relatively high level of industrialization and standard of living

a developed country

developed

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of develop

Synonyms of developed

Adjective

• evolved
• improved
• advanced
• higher

Examples of developed in a Sentence

Adjective

The disease is almost unheard of in developed countries.

The younger plant has a less developed root system.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The next time someone tells you that artificial intelligence, or any other new technology, is going to cure every disease, point them to the effort to fight heart attacks and strokes, which together are the largest killer in the developed world. — Matthew Herper, STAT, 8 Nov. 2026

France has among the most generous social programs in the developed world. — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2026

Altonaga ruled that the dispute required a more developed factual record, particularly because the university’s earlier submissions selectively reproduced statements without providing their complete conversational context. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026

By region, growth was led by emerging markets, while developed markets reflected tougher comparators and soft market conditions. — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see develop

First Known Use

Adjective

1949, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing developed

• hyper-developed
• well-developed

Rhymes for developed

• redeveloped
• undeveloped
• enveloped
• underdeveloped

Kids Definition

developed

adjective

de·​vel·​oped di-ˈvel-əpt 

: having a relatively high level of industrialization and standard of living

a developed country