What does "development" mean?
The process of developing; growth, directed change.
Development
/dɪˈvɛl.əp.mənt/ noun
noun ·Very common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The process of developing; growth, directed change.
- Grammar: development is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: growth, maturation, abiogenesis, access.
- Useful contrasts: abatement, atrophy, atrophying.
- Usage evidence: The goal of education is not wealth or status, but personal development.
How to use "development"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "development" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "development" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "development" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "development" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "development" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "growth" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "development", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The process of developing; growth, directed change. uncountable
"The development of this story has been slow."
- 2 act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining wordnet
- 3 The process by which a mature multicellular organism or part of an organism is produced by the addition of new cells. uncountable
"The organism has reached a crucial stage in its development."
- 4 the act of making some area of land or water more profitable or productive or useful wordnet
- 5 Something which has developed. countable
"Our news team brings you the latest developments."
Show 15 more definitions
- 6 (music) the section of a composition or movement (especially in sonata form) where the major musical themes are developed and elaborated wordnet
- 7 A project consisting of one or more commercial or residential buildings. countable
- 8 a recent event that has some relevance for the present situation wordnet
- 9 The building of such a project. uncountable
- 10 a district that has been developed to serve some purpose wordnet
- 11 The application of new ideas to practical problems (cf. research). uncountable
"Our development department has produced three new adhesives this year."
- 12 processing a photosensitive material in order to make an image visible wordnet
- 13 The active placement of the pieces, or the process of achieving it. uncountable
"White's development is good, but black's has been hampered by the pawn on e5."
- 14 a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage) wordnet
- 15 The process by in which previous material is transformed and restated. countable, uncountable
- 16 (biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level wordnet
- 17 The second section of a piece of music in sonata form, in which the original theme is revisited in altered and varying form. countable, uncountable
- 18 a state in which things are improving; the result of developing (as in the early part of a game of chess) wordnet
- 19 The expression of a function in the form of a series. countable, uncountable
- 20 The processing of photographic film so as to bring out the images latent in it. countable, uncountable
"I sent the film to a specialist lab for development."
Example
"The goal of education is not wealth or status, but personal development."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "development"?
Common synonyms include: growth, maturation, abiogenesis, access, accession, accomplishment.
How do you use "development" in a sentence?
The goal of education is not wealth or status, but personal development.
How do you pronounce "development"?
Pronounced /dɪˈvɛl.əp.mənt/.
Etymology
From French développement, from Old French desvelopemens (“unrolling”). By surface analysis, develop + -ment. First attested in 1756.