development
- 01 B1 Intermediate
the process of growing, changing, or becoming more advanced.
the systematic process of growth, advancement, or evolution through successive stages.
Simple“The city has seen rapid economic development over the last ten years.”
In context“Sustainable development requires a delicate balance between industrial expansion and the preservation of natural resources for future generations.”
Antonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a new situation or event that changes how things are going.
a significant new event, occurrence, or change in a situation.
Simple“There have been some exciting new developments in the police investigation.”
In context“The latest developments in the peace talks suggest that both parties are finally willing to make significant concessions.”
Synonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
an area of land with new buildings or houses on it.
a tract of land that has been built upon, specifically a residential or commercial complex.
Simple“They are building a new housing development near the park.”
In context“The luxury development features twenty-four detached villas, each designed to maximise the panoramic views of the coastline.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
the work of making new ideas into real products or services.
the practical application of research and new ideas to create or improve products and processes.
Simple“She works in software development for a large tech company.”
In context“The company invested millions into the research and development of more efficient battery technologies for electric vehicles.”
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
the way a living thing grows and changes from a simple to a complex form.
the process by which a multicellular organism or part of an organism is produced through cell addition and differentiation.
Simple“The doctor monitored the baby's physical development during the first year.”
In context“The study examines the embryonic development of certain amphibians to understand how environmental toxins affect cellular growth.”
Synonyms - 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
the chemical process used to make images appear on photographic film.
the chemical processing of photographic film or paper to render latent images visible.
Simple“The development of the film took about an hour in the darkroom.”
In context“Traditional film development requires precise temperature control of the chemical baths to ensure consistent contrast and grain structure.”
Synonyms - 07 C2 Proficiency
the middle part of a piece of music where the main tunes are changed and played with.
the central section of a movement in sonata form where thematic material is transformed and restated in various keys.
Simple“The development section of the symphony was very dramatic and loud.”
In context“In the development, the composer fragments the primary theme, weaving it through a series of rapid harmonic shifts before the final recapitulation.”
Synonyms
Usage affect development · agricultural development · aid development
From French développement, from Old French desvelopemens (“unrolling”). By surface analysis, develop + -ment. First attested in 1756.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.