develop
When you develop, you become better at something. For example, a baby will develop and grow bigger. You can also develop an idea for a game. This means you start to make the game. So, develop can mean to grow or to start making something new.
§ What does it mean and when do people use it?
The verb "develop" is a very common and useful word in English. At its core, it talks about growth, change, and creation. It's like watching something start small and become bigger, better, or more complex over time. Think about a tiny seed growing into a large tree – that's a perfect example of development.
- DEFINITION
- To grow or change into something more advanced, larger, or stronger over a period of time. It also means to start to create or design something new, like a plan, a skill, or a product.
Let's break down these two main meanings with some simple examples.
§ Meaning 1: Growing and Changing
When we say something "develops," we often mean it's getting bigger, stronger, or more advanced. This can apply to many things:
- People: Babies develop into children, and children develop into adults. This involves physical growth, learning new skills, and understanding more about the world.
- Skills: When you practice playing an instrument or learning a new language, you are developing your skills. You get better and better over time.
- Countries or Areas: A town can develop into a big city with more buildings, roads, and services. A country can develop its economy, becoming richer and offering more to its citizens.
- Things in Nature: A small plant can develop into a big, strong tree. A storm can develop in the sky, meaning it's getting stronger and bigger.
The company plans to develop its business overseas.
Children develop quickly at this age.
§ Meaning 2: Creating and Designing Something New
The second main meaning of "develop" is about creating something new, often something that requires thought and planning. This can be:
- Ideas or Plans: Before you build a house, you need to develop a plan. Before you start a new project, you need to develop an idea of what you want to achieve.
- Products or Services: Companies develop new phones, new software, or new kinds of food. This means they design them, test them, and make them ready for people to use or buy.
- Skills or Talents: A writer develops a story, an artist develops a new painting technique, or a musician develops a new melody. This is about bringing something creative into existence.
- Solutions: When there's a problem, people try to develop a solution. This means finding a way to fix the problem.
Scientists are trying to develop a new medicine.
She wants to develop her drawing skills.
§ When do people use it?
People use "develop" in a wide range of situations because it's so versatile. You'll hear it:
- In discussions about personal growth: "I want to develop my leadership skills."
- In business and technology: "The company is developing new software." or "We need to develop a marketing strategy."
- When talking about health or well-being: "He developed a fever." (meaning it appeared or started) or "Regular exercise helps develop strong muscles."
- In news reports: "The storm is developing quickly." or "The city is developing new parks."
- In education: "Students develop their critical thinking skills."
It's a word that suggests progress, improvement, and moving forward, whether naturally or through effort. Understanding these two main uses will help you grasp its meaning in most everyday conversations.
Exemples par niveau
The nascent AI technology is poised to rapidly develop into a cornerstone of global industry, revolutionizing sectors from healthcare to finance.
Nascent AI technology is going to quickly develop into an important part of global industry.
Poised to + infinitive: To be ready or prepared to do something. Rapidly: Quickly.
Amidst geopolitical shifts, nations often find it imperative to develop robust diplomatic strategies to navigate complex international relations.
Because of changes in global politics, countries need to develop strong ways to handle international relationships.
Amidst: In the middle of. Imperative: Very important. Robust: Strong and healthy.
Leading scientists are relentlessly working to develop a vaccine capable of eradicating the most resilient infectious diseases.
Scientists are tirelessly working to create a vaccine that can get rid of the toughest diseases.
Relentlessly: Without stopping. Eradicating: Getting rid of completely. Resilient: Able to recover quickly.
Over centuries, civilizations have continued to develop sophisticated legal frameworks to govern societal interactions and ensure justice.
For hundreds of years, societies have kept creating complex legal systems to manage how people interact and to make sure there's fairness.
Sophisticated: Complex and advanced. Frameworks: Structures or systems of rules.
Academics in the field of quantum physics are striving to develop a unified theory that reconciles general relativity with quantum mechanics.
Scientists in quantum physics are trying hard to make a single theory that combines general relativity and quantum mechanics.
Striving: Trying very hard. Unified theory: A single theory that explains everything. Reconciles: Makes two different things compatible.
The avant-garde artist sought to develop an entirely new aesthetic, challenging conventional perceptions of beauty and form.
The experimental artist wanted to create a completely new style of art, questioning usual ideas of beauty and shape.
Avant-garde: New and experimental. Aesthetic: A set of principles underlying the work of a particular artist or artistic movement.
Multinational corporations frequently develop intricate supply chains to optimize production efficiency and global distribution.
Big international companies often make very detailed supply chains to make production and worldwide delivery as good as possible.
Intricate: Very complicated. Optimize: To make something as good or effective as possible.
Historians meticulously analyze archival data to develop nuanced interpretations of past events, often challenging established narratives.
Historians carefully look at old records to create detailed understandings of past events, often questioning common stories.
Meticulously: With great attention to detail. Nuanced: Having subtle differences in meaning. Established narratives: Commonly accepted stories or explanations.
Expressions idiomatiques
"develop a taste for something"
To start to like something that you did not like before.
I never used to eat olives, but I've developed a taste for them recently.
neutral"develop a habit"
To start doing something regularly, often unconsciously.
She developed a habit of biting her nails when she was stressed.
neutral"develop a skill"
To improve one's ability to do something.
He spent years developing his skill as a carpenter.
neutral"develop an argument"
To present a series of reasons or ideas to support a point of view.
In her essay, she carefully developed her argument for stricter environmental regulations.
formal"develop a film"
To chemically treat photographic film to make the images visible.
I need to take my camera film to be developed.
neutral"develop a feeling for something"
To begin to understand or have a natural ability for something.
After a few lessons, she started to develop a feeling for playing the piano.
neutral"develop a reputation"
To become known for a particular quality or behavior.
He developed a reputation as a hard worker.
neutral"develop a plan"
To create a detailed scheme for doing something.
The team needs to develop a comprehensive plan for the new project.
neutral"develop a business"
To expand and improve a company or enterprise.
They worked hard to develop their small start-up into a successful business.
neutral"develop an understanding of something"
To acquire knowledge and insight about a particular subject.
Through her studies, she developed a deep understanding of ancient history.
neutralFamille de mots
Noms
Verbes
Adjectifs
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
To **develop** a skill, you must **dev**ote **el**bow grease, **op**en your mind, and **e**xert **v**igorous effort.
Association visuelle
Picture a tiny seed **developing** into a mighty oak tree, its roots growing stronger and its branches reaching higher. Alternatively, imagine an architect at a drawing board, meticulously **developing** the blueprints for a grand new building, seeing the design come to life in their mind's eye.
Word Web
Défi
Can you use 'develop' in a sentence to describe a personal goal you're working on? For example, 'I want to develop my public speaking skills by practicing daily.'
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsOf course! You could say, 'The company aims to develop new software to improve efficiency.' This means they want to create new software.
That's a good question! While they're similar, 'develop' often implies a more intentional or structured process of improvement or creation, whereas 'grow' can be more natural or organic. For example, a plant 'grows,' but a scientist 'develops' a new theory.
Absolutely! You can say, 'She wants to develop her public speaking skills.' This means she wants to improve them.
That's an interesting thought. While 'develop' often has positive connotations, it can also describe the progression of something negative, like 'The disease began to develop rapidly.' However, in general conversation, it's usually used in a positive sense.
You would typically say, 'The country is working to develop its infrastructure.' This means they are trying to improve and expand things like roads, bridges, and communication systems.
Some words that are similar include 'evolve,' 'progress,' 'create,' 'build,' and 'advance.' The best choice depends on the specific context.
Yes, it can! When you 'develop a film,' it refers to the chemical process that makes the images visible on the photographic film. This is a very specific use of the word.
Yes, there is! The noun form is 'development.' For example, 'The development of new technologies is very exciting.'
You could say, 'We need to develop a new marketing plan.' This means you need to create or formulate a new plan.
The past tense of 'develop' is 'developed.' For example, 'They developed a new strategy last year.'
Teste-toi 30 questions
Think about what a company might create for its customers.
Consider what kind of habits are beneficial for students.
Imagine what can be done with an empty plot of land in a city.
Read this aloud:
I want to develop my English skills to communicate more effectively.
Focus: develop, effectively
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
What steps can a person take to develop a new hobby?
Focus: steps, develop, hobby
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
It's essential to develop strong relationships with colleagues at work.
Focus: essential, develop, relationships
Tu as dit :
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This sentence structure (Subject + Verb + Object + Infinitive) is common for expressing necessity or a goal.
This is a conditional sentence (Type 1) showing a likely outcome. The main clause states what will happen, and the 'if' clause states the condition.
The modal verb 'must' indicates obligation, followed by the base form of the verb 'develop' and a prepositional phrase indicating direction.
The prodigious efforts of the research team were instrumental in ______________ a groundbreaking new algorithm.
The context implies creation and advancement, making 'developing' the most fitting choice. 'Stagnating,' 'deteriorating,' and 'regressing' suggest decline or lack of progress.
Despite numerous setbacks, the nascent startup managed to ______________ a robust market presence within a remarkably short period.
The sentence suggests growth and establishment. 'Develop' aligns with this meaning, indicating the startup built up its presence. The other options imply destruction or weakening.
To ______________ a truly nuanced understanding of complex geopolitical issues requires extensive study and critical analysis.
'Develop' is the most appropriate word here, signifying the cultivation of a deeper and more comprehensive understanding. The other options suggest making something less clear or less complex.
A nation's economic prosperity is often contingent upon its capacity to develop innovative industries.
The statement is true. The ability to create and advance new industries is a key driver of economic growth and prosperity.
One can effectively develop interpersonal skills without engaging in frequent social interactions.
Developing interpersonal skills inherently requires practice and feedback through social interactions; it's not a solitary endeavor.
The process of developing a new pharmaceutical drug typically involves a swift and uncomplicated series of trials.
Developing new pharmaceutical drugs is a highly complex, lengthy, and rigorous process involving extensive research, multiple phases of trials, and stringent regulatory approvals.
Consider the context of AI's progression.
Focus on the need for careful intellectual growth.
Think about the construction of a philosophical system.
Read this aloud:
Articulate how societies endeavor to develop robust mechanisms for addressing systemic inequalities and fostering equitable progress.
Focus: endeavor, systemic, equitable
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Discuss the intricate processes involved when an artist strives to develop a distinctive oeuvre that transcends conventional aesthetic paradigms.
Focus: intricate, distinctive, transcends
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Elaborate on the challenges inherent in developing sustainable economic models that reconcile environmental stewardship with industrial expansion.
Focus: inherent, reconcile, stewardship
Tu as dit :
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This sentence means he attempted to add a subtle distinction or quality to the argument to make it more complex or refined. 'Develop' here refers to elaborating or adding detail.
This sentence implies that the company's initiatives were focused on improving its ability to both create new things and grow or evolve as an organization.
This sentence highlights the importance of building a harmonious and trusting relationship with the interviewee, often for effective communication or information gathering.
/ 30 correct
Perfect score!
Exemple
Children develop their speaking skills by listening to their parents.
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