# develop

/dɪˈvɛɫəp/ (US) · /dɪvˈɛləp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/develop
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. to grow or improve

verb · CEFR A2

to grow or change into something more advanced or stronger.

For teachers: to progress through a sequence of stages toward a more advanced, effective, or mature state.

- The small village developed into a busy town over the last twenty years.
- As the child's motor skills develop, they become increasingly capable of performing complex tasks that require fine hand-eye coordination.

### 2. to create or design

verb · CEFR B1

to design or build something new, like a product or a plan.

For teachers: to bring into being or make active; to elaborate or expand in detail.

- The company is developing a new app to help people track their fitness.
- The research team spent three years developing a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics before the product was ready for the mass market.

### 3. to acquire a habit or illness

verb · CEFR B2

to start to have a problem, a sickness, or a new habit.

For teachers: to become affected by a disease or to begin to exhibit a specific habit or trait over time.

- He developed a bad cough after walking home in the cold rain.
- Patients who lead sedentary lifestyles are statistically more likely to develop chronic cardiovascular issues later in life.

### 4. photography

verb · CEFR B1

to use chemicals to make pictures appear on film.

For teachers: to treat exposed photographic film with chemicals to render the latent image visible.

- I need to take this roll of film to the shop to have it developed.
- Before digital cameras became standard, photographers spent hours in darkrooms carefully developing their own black-and-white prints.

### 5. math/logic

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to work out a mathematical problem to show all the steps.

For teachers: to expand an algebraic expression or a mathematical argument by performing a series of operations.

- The teacher asked the students to develop the equation on the board.
- The mathematician sought to develop a new proof that would reconcile the conflicting results observed in the previous two studies.

## Examples

- Children develop quickly during their first few years.
- The city council wants to develop the empty land near the river into a public park with walking trails.
- As the plot of the novel unfolds, the protagonist develops from a naive youth into a cynical observer, reflecting the author's own disillusionment with society.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.