develop
gb/dɪvˈɛləp/ us/dɪvˈɛləp/
B1
English
~ 500
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
Make something grow or improve
To help something grow or become better over time.
Usage pattern:
to develop [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'develop' with 'invent'. 'Develop' means to improve or expand something that may already exist, while 'invent' means to create something completely new.
Synonyms
cultivate (Often used for gradual improvement through care and effort, especially in skills or relationships.)
|
foster (Emphasizes encouragement and support rather than active creation.)
Antonyms
neglect (Implies failing to care for or improve something.)
Collocations
develop skills
|develop a plan
|develop a product
|develop relationships
Themes
business
|education
|science
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She worked hard to develop her writing skills.
- The company plans to develop a new line of eco-friendly products.
- Teachers should develop students' ability to think critically.
- He developed the idea into a full business proposal.
Learner examples
- I want to develop my English vocabulary.
- They will develop a new app for phones.
- We need to develop a plan for the trip.
- She is developing her cooking skills.
Verb
B1
action
2
Grow or change into something better
To slowly grow or change into something better or more complete.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] develops into [something]
Synonyms
evolve (Highlights a slow and natural process of change over time.)
Antonyms
regress (Means to go back to a worse state.)
Collocations
develop into a leader
|develop over time
|develop quickly
Themes
daily life
|personal growth
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The child developed into a confident speaker.
- This small town has developed into a busy city.
- Her interest in art developed during high school.
- The project developed slowly due to lack of funding.
Learner examples
- He developed into a good player.
- The baby is developing very fast.
- My city has developed a lot in ten years.
- Her skills developed after much practice.
Verb
B2
action
3
Begin to have an illness or condition
To start to get a sickness or health problem.
Usage pattern:
to develop [a disease/condition]
Synonyms
contract (Commonly used for catching infectious diseases; more formal.)
Antonyms
recover (Means to get better after being sick.)
Collocations
develop cancer
|develop symptoms
|develop diabetes
Themes
health
Examples
- He developed a high fever after the trip.
- Smokers are more likely to develop lung problems.
- She developed an allergy to peanuts.
- The patient developed complications after surgery.
Learner examples
- He developed a cold last week.
- My father developed heart problems.
- She developed skin rash after swimming.
- People can develop illnesses from bad food.
Verb
B2
action
4
Create or design something new
To make or design something new like a product or plan.
Usage pattern:
to develop [a product/system/idea]
Synonyms
design (Focuses on planning the form and function before creation.)
|
invent (Usually refers to creating something entirely new for the first time.)
Antonyms
abandon (Means to stop working on creating something.)
Collocations
develop software
|develop technology
|develop a strategy
Themes
technology
|business
Examples
- The team is developing software for online learning.
- They developed a new marketing strategy.
- Scientists are developing renewable energy sources.
- She developed an innovative way to recycle plastic.
Learner examples
- We will develop a new website.
- They are developing a smart watch.
- He developed a game for children.
- Our company develops new machines.
Verb
technical
B2
action
5
Make photographic image visible
To make pictures from film or prepare digital photos for use.
Usage pattern:
to develop [film/photos]
Synonyms
process (Technical term for preparing film or photos so they can be viewed.)
Collocations
develop film
|develop photographs
Themes
photography
|technology
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- He learned how to develop film in the darkroom.
- The photographer developed the pictures overnight.
- They developed the negatives into prints.
- We no longer need to develop digital photos in the same way as film.
Learner examples
- I want to develop my old film.
- She developed the photos at the shop.
- They developed pictures from our trip.
- He can develop photos at home.
Grammar
Dictionary form
develop
IPA
GB/dɪvˈɛləp/
US/dɪvˈɛləp/
Syllables & stress
de - vel - op (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (vel)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: develop
- 3rd Person Singular: develops
- Present Participle: developing
- Past: developed
Word family
Forms
develops
verb
developing
verb
developed
verb
Core family
development
noun B1
developer
noun B1
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
undeveloped
adjective
underdeveloped
adjective
underdevelopment
noun
Advanced or less common
developmentally
adverb
Expressions
develop a taste for
1/dɪvˈɛləp ə tˈeɪst fɚ/
fixed phrase
Start liking something new
To start liking something you did not like before.
Examples
- I’ve recently developed a taste for jazz music.
- He developed a taste for spicy food after living abroad.
develop from
1/dɪvˈɛləp fɹˈʌm/
phrasal verb
Originate from something over time
To come from something else as it changes over time.
Examples
- Modern birds developed from certain types of dinosaurs.
- Her idea for the novel developed from a short story she wrote.
develop into
1/dɪvˈɛləp ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
Grow and change into something else
To slowly grow and change into something different, often better or more advanced.
Examples
- The hobby developed into a successful career.
- This seedling will develop into a tall tree in ten years.