present participle of develop; showing that an action of creating, growing, or improving is happening now or over time
They are developing a new app to help people find lost pets.
The baby is developing language skills quickly.
✦ From Old French “développer” meaning “to unwrap” or “unfold,” entering English in the early 1600s.
to grow or cause something to grow and become larger, stronger, or more advanced
The seed quickly developed into a small sapling in the warm greenhouse.
Maria could see her language skills develop every day while working abroad.
✦ Mid-17th century (in the sense ‘unfold, unwrap’): from French développer, from Old French desveloper ‘unwrap’, based on voloper ‘to wrap’.
