development

[ dih-vel-uhp-muhnt ]

noun

1. the act or process of developing; growth; progress:

   child development; economic development.

   Synonyms: maturation, opening, evolution, growth, elaboration, expansion

   Antonyms: disintegration, deterioration

2. a significant consequence or event:

   recent developments in the field of science.

3. a developed or advanced state or form:

   Drama reached its highest development in the plays of Shakespeare.

   Synonyms: ripeness, maturity

4. Music. the part of a movement or composition in which a theme or themes are developed, or unfolded and elaborated, by various technical means, so as to reveal their inherent possibilities.
5. a large group of private houses or of apartment houses, often of similar design, constructed as a unified community, especially by a real-estate developer or government organization.

   Synonyms: subdivision, community

6. Chess. the act or process of developing chess pieces.
7. Mining. the work of digging openings, as tunnels, raises, and winzes, to give access to new workings, and of erecting necessary structures.

development

/ dɪˈvɛləpmənt /

noun

1. the act or process of growing, progressing, or developing
2. the product or result of developing
3. a fact, event, or happening, esp one that changes a situation
4. an area or tract of land that has been developed
5. Also calleddevelopment section the section of a movement, usually in sonata form, in which the basic musical themes are developed
6. chess
   1. the process of developing pieces
   2. the manner in which they are developed
   3. the position of the pieces in the early part of a game with reference to their attacking potential or defensive efficiency

Derived Forms

• deˌvelopˈmental, adjective
• deˌvelopˈmentally, adverb

Other Words From

• de·velop·mental de·velop·menta·ry adjective
• de·velop·mental·ly adverb
• anti·de·velop·ment adjective
• hyper·de·velop·ment noun
• hyper·de·velop·mental adjective
• nonde·velop·ment noun
• nonde·velop·mental adjective
• nonde·velop·mental·ly adverb
• postde·velop·mental adjective
• prede·velop·ment noun
• self-de·velop·ment noun
• subde·velop·ment noun
• super·de·velop·ment noun
• unde·velop·ment noun
• unde·velop·mental adjective
• unde·velop·mental·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of development¹

First recorded in 1745–55; develop + -ment, or from French développement

Example Sentences

In the second study, Garret Miyake, a chemist at Colorado State University, and his colleagues report the development of a related organic catalyst that’s more selective.

From Science Magazine

In what was seen as a positive development, he returned to Beirut on Tuesday after the Lebanese government and Hezbollah accepted a US-drafted proposal, although with some comments.

From BBC

Some tenant advocates feared that by opening up existing multifamily areas to significant new development, it would cause a wave of displacement as existing buildings are knocked down.

From Los Angeles Times

This refrain underscores the growing partisan divide over the legislation’s priorities, with Republicans increasingly pushing for a focus on agriculture and rural development, while Democrats emphasize addressing food insecurity and expanding nutrition assistance programs.

From Salon

The results from this study provide valuable information for the development of high-performance cathodes that remain stable over the long term and are resistant to cycling.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• advancement
• evolution
• expansion
• improvement
• increase
• progress