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
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Relevance
2
as in to acquire
to come to have gradually
the youngster developed a taste for green olives
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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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of develop
This is a developing story and may be updated.
—
Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 12 Jan. 2026
The infection develops when usually harmless bacteria travel through the respiratory tract and infiltrate the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, causing severe inflammation.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026
Bands of lake effect snow are also re-developing along the Eastern Great Lakes, bringing areas of snow over the next 24 hours to parts of western and northern New York state.
—ABC News, 11 Jan. 2026
Sometimes the process of developing new shows is affected by the release of a new Disney film that speeds the process of adapting it to ice rinks.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for develop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for develop
Verb
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The protest comes amid ongoing unrest in Iran, where demonstrations that began over economic grievances have spread nationwide, evolving into a direct challenge to Iran's clerical leadership.—
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Trump’s pressure campaign has included a barrage of personal insults at Powell, evolving into threats to fire the Fed chair.—
Verb
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The Kings acquired Schroder over the summer in a sign-and-trade deal with the Detroit Pistons.—
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In 2000, Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph sat down across from John Antioco, then CEO of video rental giant Blockbuster, and pitched him on acquiring their still unprofitable DVD-by-mail startup, Netflix, which at the time had around 300,000 subscribers.—
Verb
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If similar inflow patterns are found in other inactive galaxies, red geysers could become a key model for understanding how galaxies across the universe grow old, and quietly stay that way.—
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The strategy reflects McDonald's broader push to lean on nostalgia and popular partnerships to drive traffic and loyalty at a time when consumers are growing more cautious about spending, the outlet reported, citing a recent earnings call.—
Verb
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Flywing also plans to expand the competitive side of the platform.—
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Neutrality allowed the nation to build strength, expand westward, and avoid the ideological contagions sweeping the continent.—
Verb
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Both chambers are expected to forge ahead quickly in the coming weeks.—
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Remind yourself that clear communication can forge uncertainty into cooperation and closeness.—
Verb
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Their characters also had a romantic history and a will-they-won't-they dynamic that unfolded amid the ER's chaos.—
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The Legislature’s tax discussions are unfolding in the shadow of a controversial ballot measure proposal to impose a one-time tax on the state’s billionaires.—
Verb
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The psychological thriller, penned by Pulitzer Prize- and Tony-winning writer Tracy Letts (Coon's real life husband), cultivates fear slowly.—
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And recently, Minneapolis has cultivated its own take on the culture—a little more social, a little more lively.—
Verb
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December 22 – January 19 When boundaries feel tight, kindness unlocks progress.—
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Capricorn December 22 – January 19 When boundaries feel tight, kindness unlocks progress.—
Cite this Entry
“Develop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/develop. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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