Definition of developnext
1
as in to evolve
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

Relevance
2
3
4
as in to expand
to express more fully and in greater detail marketing people developed the initial idea into a complete promotional campaign

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5

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 develop Naboso was developed by a podiatrist and uses texture on all products to stimulate the feet, improving overall foot awareness, foot strength and aiding in recovery. Tory Johnson, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026 Perfectionists Nini and Jane are feeling a bit neurotic, while Darlene Mitchell helpfully steers Juicy to develop a Karen that will lean into her strengths and make Ru laugh. Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2026 The Gulf’s investment in fertilizer paid off, as by 2026, much of the developing world was reliant on Gulf fertilizers. Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026 All mission events are subject to change, to an even greater extent than ISS missions, because Artemis 2 is developing procedures and systems for the wider Artemis program. Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 28 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for develop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for develop
Verb
  • Planets typically evolve from the rotating dust and gas disc encompassing a young star.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The collection merges advanced material engineering with innovative fiber compositions and a refined design language, offering a new perspective on how denim can evolve—both technically and aesthetically.
    Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The center fielder from Cuba, acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a January trade, also had two RBI singles Thursday in his New York debut.
    CBS News, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Outfielder Alan Roden, acquired by the Twins at last July’s MLB trade deadline, sealed the victory with a two-run double that broke a 7-7 tie in the eighth innings.
    Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • As ideological blocs collapsed, political scientist Samuel Huntington’s influential 1996 book Clash of Civilizations articulated a growing anxiety that globalization would harden into cultural antagonism rather than consensus.
    Daniel Birnbaum, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
  • New Era, a 200-bed facility, has had recurring outbreaks of Legionella, the bacteria that grow within water and air conditioning systems and can cause Legionnaires’ Disease, records show.
    Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • With the 2026 midterms approaching, sustained voter unease could reshape the broader electoral map and complicate Republican efforts to hold or expand their congressional margins.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
  • But the department is looking to expand its authority.
    ABC News, ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • For example, a Republican Party activist in The Villages in Central Florida was charged in 2023 with forging his father’s signature on a mail ballot in the 2020 election after his father had died.
    ORLANDO SENTINEL AND MIAMI HERALD EDITORIAL BOARDS, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Faced with being iced out by its biggest trading partner, Canada has since forged strategic partnerships with countries across the globe, including China, much to Trump’s chagrin.
    Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Later in the book, after Thomas has died, the narrator visits Max at his home in California, where another hypnotic two-hander unfolds.
    Giles Harvey, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • From there, the house unfolds via a traditional footprint that somehow feels soft and inviting instead of stifling.
    Miriam Schwartz, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Taubel believes some of the supply problems have eased as early cultivator licensees' initial plants have fully grown and are cultivated.
    Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Reviving that legacy would mean cultivating a new trust in government—such that an official knock at the door might be expected to herald something good as opposed to a masked federal agent.
    Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • As mission teams progress through the countdown, expect to hear SLS, which stands for Space Launch System, to indicate the rocket.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
  • There are two types of sleeping sickness, each named after the region of Africa where it was historically found; both progress through two distinct stages.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Develop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/develop. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on develop

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster