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

More than 11,000 Americans turn 65 every single day, and birth rates are falling across most of the developed world. — Pat Gelsinger, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026

Some went to cities that have long been magnets for immigrants — New York, Miami — but increasingly, others found their way to smaller cities with less developed immigrant footholds. — Will Jarrett, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

The death rate is even higher for children, whose immune systems are less developed. — Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026

Still tiny, Obelix developed sepsis, an extreme reaction to infection. — Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 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