English Reference
adjective

developed

adj.
US /dɪˈvɛɫəpt/ UK /dɪvˈɛləpt/ de·vel·oped

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    describing a country with a lot of industry, modern technology, and a strong economy.

    referring to a nation or region with a highly industrialised economy, advanced infrastructure, and a high standard of living.

    Simple

    Many developed countries are working together to reduce their carbon emissions.

    In context

    The transition from an agrarian society to a developed economy requires significant investment in education and digital infrastructure.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    fully grown or having reached an advanced stage.

    having reached a state of maturity, complexity, or full functional capacity.

    Simple

    The young athlete already has a very developed sense of discipline.

    In context

    By the third trimester, the foetus has highly developed internal organs capable of supporting life outside the womb.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Science

    describing film that has been treated with chemicals so the pictures can be seen.

    referring to photographic film or paper that has undergone chemical processing to render a latent image visible and permanent.

    Simple

    She took the roll of developed film to the shop to get prints made.

    In context

    The photographer spent hours in the darkroom examining the developed negatives for any signs of light leakage.

    Usage

    In modern contexts, this usually refers to traditional analogue photography rather than digital files.

    unexposedundeveloped

Usage developed a new · developed a method · developed a way

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Very common
Updated