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
as in to acquire
to come to have gradually
the youngster developed a taste for green olives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to grow
to become mature
the wine is developing nicely in the new oak barrels
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to expand
to express more fully and in greater detail
marketing people developed the initial idea into a complete promotional campaign
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5
as in to forge
to produce or bring about especially by long or repeated effort
outside consultants helped the company develop an effective marketing strategy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of develop
Occupational therapy supports individuals in developing, recovering and maintaining the skills needed for daily activities, including self-care, work, school, and community engagement.
—
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
The cofounder of Canyon Equity, a firm that specializes in developing high-end resorts in rare locations, Henkel has become a connoisseur of remarkably quiet landscapes.
—Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2026
According to reports, Japan hopes to develop lots of cheap, long-range (621 mile/1,000 km+) weapons that can overwhelm any potential rival in the future.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
Research has shown that in the first few years of life, children’s brains are growing and developing rapidly, and those early years have long-term consequences for kids’ well-being.
—Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for develop
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
The cofounder of Canyon Equity, a firm that specializes in developing high-end resorts in rare locations, Henkel has become a connoisseur of remarkably quiet landscapes.
—Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2026
According to reports, Japan hopes to develop lots of cheap, long-range (621 mile/1,000 km+) weapons that can overwhelm any potential rival in the future.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026
Research has shown that in the first few years of life, children’s brains are growing and developing rapidly, and those early years have long-term consequences for kids’ well-being.
—Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for develop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for develop
Verb
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Planets typically evolve from the rotating dust and gas disc encompassing a young star.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
2 Apr. 2026
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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
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Lionel Messi’s name was already in lights on a stadium so unfinished that a permit to play Saturday’s game against Austin FC was just acquired Friday.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Apr. 2026
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That was one of the Current’s biggest departures, enabling them to pay $1 million to acquire star attacker Croix Bethune from the Washington Spirit.—
PJ Green
April 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
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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
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But the department is looking to expand its authority.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Develop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/develop. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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