development

word

/dɪˈvɛɫəpmənt/
di-VEL-uhp-muhnt
/dɪvˈɛləpmənt/
di-VEL-uhp-muhnt

Definition

Development is the process of growing, changing, or becoming more advanced. It can refer to a child's physical or mental growth, progress in a situation or project, or the building of new houses, roads, or other structures.

Usage & Nuances

Very common in formal, academic, business, and news English. Common collocations include 'economic development', 'child development', 'software development', and 'property development'. 'Development' often means progress, but in real-estate contexts it can mean a new group of buildings or a construction project.

Example Sentences

The city needs more development in public transport.

basic

Child development is important for teachers to understand.

basic

They started a new housing development near the river.

basic

There’s been a really interesting development in the case this morning.

natural

App development takes longer than most people think.

natural

We’re watching the development of the story and will update you soon.

natural