development

development — noun

1. the gradual process by which a person, thing, or situation becomes bigger, bette

1.nounB1
Definition

the gradual process by which a person, thing, or situation becomes bigger, better, or more advanced over a period of time

Example

The development of the internet has changed how people across the world communicate.

the development of [something]

Sumin's development as a pianist was slow but steady during her teenage years.

[possessive] development as [a role]

Common collocations
  • child development
  • economic development
  • physical development
  • professional development
  • rapid development
  • slow development
  • human development
  • social development
Synonyms
  • growth

    focuses on getting bigger in size or amount; less about becoming more advanced

  • progress

    emphasises moving forward toward a goal

  • advancement

    more formal; stresses upward movement or promotion

  • evolution

    suggests a slow, natural process of change over a long period

Antonyms
  • decline

    movement toward a worse state

  • regression

    return to an earlier, less advanced state

Grammar Patterns

the development of [something]

[possessive] development

[adjective] development

Usage Note

This is the broadest and most common sense. When used without context, 'development' usually refers to this meaning of growth or advancement. It can be uncountable ('economic development') or countable ('a promising development in the talks').

Common Mistakes

The development of the child was slow' (unnatural without context).
The child's language development was slow for her age.
Add a specific domain or field when describing a person's development.
There is good development in this country' (too vague).
There has been strong economic development in this country over the last decade.
Specify the type of development (economic, social, etc.) for clarity.

2. a fresh incident or piece of news that adds to an unfolding sequence of connecte

2.nounB2
Definition

a fresh incident or piece of news that adds to an unfolding sequence of connected happenings and could shape how things turn out

Example

The police are closely watching for any new developments in the missing-person case.

new / latest / recent developments in [a situation]

Arjun called an emergency meeting to discuss the latest developments in the trade talks.

Common collocations
  • new development
  • latest development
  • recent development
  • significant development
  • worrying development
  • further development
  • positive development
  • key development
Synonyms
  • event

    broader; any happening, not necessarily part of a continuing series

  • news

    focuses on information that is reported or shared

  • update

    emphasises the latest information about a situation; more informal

  • turn of events

    suggests a surprising or important change in a situation

Grammar Patterns

[adjective] development(s)

there has been a development

latest / new / recent developments

Usage Note

This sense typically appears with a descriptive adjective ('new', 'latest', 'recent', 'significant', 'worrying') and is common in news reports, business updates, and formal discussions. The plural form 'developments' is used more often than the singular.

Common Mistakes

I have a development to tell you' (unnatural for personal news).
There have been some developments in the project that I want to share with you.
This sense is rarely used for casual personal news; use 'news' or 'update' instead.

3. the work or process of creating or designing a new product, system, technology,

3.nounB2
Definition

the work or process of creating or designing a new product, system, technology, or idea from an early stage to completion

Example

Heather's team is working on the development of a new electric car battery.

the development of a new [product / technology]

Recent developments in artificial intelligence have changed many industries.

developments in [field]

Common collocations
  • product development
  • software development
  • research and development
  • technology development
  • business development
  • app development
  • economic development
  • community development
Synonyms
  • creation

    emphasises bringing something into existence for the first time

  • invention

    specifically about creating something that did not exist before

  • design

    focuses on the planning and shaping stage rather than the whole process

  • production

    focuses on the manufacturing stage after development is complete

Grammar Patterns

the development of [a product/system/idea]

[field] development

research and development

Usage Note

This sense overlaps with sense 1 (GROWTH & CHANGE) but is narrower — it focuses specifically on the deliberate creation of new things, not natural or general improvement. Common in business and technology contexts. Often used in compounds such as 'research and development', 'product development', and 'software development'.

Common Mistakes

We are working on development of new product' (missing article).
We are working on the development of a new product.
Use 'the' before 'development' when followed by 'of'.

4. a site where newly built homes, shops, or offices stand, typically created as a

4.nounB2
Definition

a site where newly built homes, shops, or offices stand, typically created as a single planned venture to earn income

Example

A new housing development is being built on the empty land near the river.

housing / residential / commercial development

Ziad bought an apartment in a waterfront development with beautiful ocean views.

Common collocations
  • housing development
  • commercial development
  • residential development
  • mixed-use development
  • waterfront development
  • new development
  • shopping development
  • planned development
Synonyms
  • estate

    British English; a housing development, sometimes more upscale

  • complex

    a group of similar buildings, often for a specific purpose

  • site

    the piece of land before or during construction, not the finished project

Grammar Patterns

[adjective] development

new / housing / commercial development

Usage Note

This sense is specific to land use and construction. It is typically preceded by an adjective describing the type: 'housing development', 'commercial development', 'residential development'. Common in real estate advertising, local news, and town planning discussions.

Common Mistakes

They bought a house in a new development area' (redundant).
They bought a house in a new development.
'Development' already means the area of new buildings; adding 'area' is unnecessary.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Development, growth, progress, advancement, and evolution all describe change over time, but each has a different flavour. Growth focuses on increase in size or quantity: a plant grows taller, a population grows larger. Progress emphasises movement toward a specific goal: you make progress on a project or toward peace. Advancement is more formal and often suggests upward movement or promotion: career advancement or technological advancement. Evolution suggests a slow, natural, often unplanned process of change: the evolution of language or species. Development sits in the middle — it covers both natural growth (child development) and deliberate improvement (economic development). For example, a country can experience economic development (improved systems and living standards) even when its population growth is slow, and a child shows development (gaining skills) as part of their natural growth.

growth ↗progress ↗advancement ↗evolution ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • stage of development
  • phase of development
  • in the early stages of development
  • at an advanced stage of development
  • pace of development

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'development' entered English in the 17th century from French 'développement', which came from the Old French verb 'desveloper' meaning 'to unwrap' or 'to unfold' — literally, to undo a wrapping. The 'des-' prefix meant 'un-' and 'voloper' meant 'to wrap'. This image of unwrapping or unfolding gave rise to the modern meaning of something gradually revealing itself or moving from a simpler to a more complete state. The use for land and building projects appeared in the 19th century, and the sense of a 'new event or stage' developed in the early 20th century.