development
dih-VEHL-uhp-muhnt
Development (noun) means the process of growing, changing, or advancing. Example: “Her career development has been impressive over the years.”
noun
1
The process of growing, changing, or advancing.
"Her career development has been impressive over the years."
"Regular play is important for a child's development in the early years."
"The development of the town from a small village took many decades."
2
A new event or piece of news relating to a situation.
"There have been several developments in the case this week."
"The latest development is that the match has been postponed because of rain."
"Reporters waited outside for any new development in the story."
3
A group of newly built houses, offices, or other structures on a plot of land.
"A new housing development is going up on the edge of town."
"Residents objected to a large development planned beside the river."
"The shopping development has a car park, a cafe and a cinema."
How to use development
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGrowth or progress over time, a piece of news, or a built-up area of housing.
Common pairings
economic development
latest developments
housing development
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Word forms
- Plural
- developments
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Her career _____ has been impressive over the years.
Etymology
From French développement, from Old French desvelopemens ("unrolling"); development + -ment.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
nondevelopment
Related words
Rhymes for development
See all rhymes for development →Frequently asked questions
What does “development” mean?
The word “development” means the process of growing, changing, or advancing. In plain terms, growth or progress over time, a piece of news, or a built-up area of housing.
How do you pronounce “development”?
“Development” is pronounced dih-VEHL-uhp-muhnt (/dɪˈvɛl.əp.mənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “development” in a sentence?
Here is “development” used in a sentence: “Her career development has been impressive over the years.”
What part of speech is “development”?
“Development” is a noun.
Where does the word “development” come from?
The word “development” comes from Old French. From French développement, from Old French desvelopemens ("unrolling"); development + -ment.
Is “development” a common word?
“Development” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “development” have?
“Development” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the process of growing, changing, or advancing.
What is the difference between development and growth?
Growth usually means an increase in size, amount or number — something getting bigger. Development is broader: it is the process of advancing, improving or becoming more complex and capable, not just larger. A child grows taller but develops language and skills. Growth is mostly quantitative, while development is qualitative change over time.
What are the types of development?
The word applies across many fields: personal development, child development, economic development, professional development, software development and property or urban development. In each, something grows, changes or advances over time — a person's abilities, a country's economy, a piece of land, or a computer program moving from idea to finished product.
Can development be measured?
Yes, in most fields it is tracked with indicators and milestones. Child development is measured against expected stages; economic development uses figures like income, health and education combined in indices; software and project development is measured by progress toward defined goals. Measuring it shows whether the growth or advancement is actually happening.
What is an example of development?
Development is any process of growing or advancing: 'the development of language in young children,' 'recent developments in cancer treatment,' or 'the economic development of the region.' It can name the process itself or a specific new stage that emerges, such as a breakthrough or a newly built area.
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