Develop: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'develop' when talking about the process of growth, advancement, or improvement over time. It's often used in the context of skills, projects, or software.

• She is working hard to develop her language skills.
• We need to develop a new strategy for our marketing campaign.

Use 'create' when talking about making something new that did not exist before. This word is often used in art, writing, or activities that require a high level of imagination.

• She loves to create beautiful paintings in her free time.
• He created a new character for his novel.

Use 'design' when referring to the planning and conceptualizing phase of creation, often with an emphasis on aesthetics or functional aspects. It's commonly used in contexts related to fashion, architecture, and software interfaces.

• She is going to design the new company logo.
• Engineers need to design a more efficient engine.

Use 'build' when referring to the creation of physical structures, or assembling elements to form a complete product. It can also be used metaphorically to describe creating relationships or trust.

• They plan to build a new bridge across the river.
• It takes time to build trust with a new team.

Appropriate when referring to the process of making something more advanced or elaborate over time, especially in terms of skills, projects, or infrastructure.

• She plans to develop her programming skills by taking additional courses.
• The company will develop a new marketing strategy this quarter.

Fits well when referring to the increase in size, number, or significance over time. Typically used for living things, businesses, and abstract qualities.

• Children grow rapidly in their first few years.
• The company is expected to grow its market share next year.

Best used when describing the process of becoming fully developed or aged, often with an implication of improved qualities or behavior. Can be used for people, wines, cheeses, etc.

• Over the years, he began to mature and take more responsibility.
• This cheese needs several months to fully mature.

Used when describing gradual changes over a long period, especially in biological or behavioral contexts. Often implies a more natural and less planned process.

• Over millions of years, species evolve to adapt to their environments.
• Their relationship has evolved significantly since they first met.

Used when referring to the process of creating or improving something, whether it’s a skill, product, or area of land.

• She took a course to develop her programming skills.
• They plan to develop the empty lot into a new shopping center.

This generally means land or buildings that someone owns. It can also refer to personal possessions.

• She invested in a rental property downtown.
• The company owns several properties in different cities.

Appropriate for referring to a specific location, especially related to construction, events, or historical significance.

• They visited the construction site to check on progress.
• The site of the ancient ruins attracts many tourists.

Commonly refers to a large area of land, often with a lot of buildings, owned by one person or family.

• The family owned an estate in the countryside.
• They toured the historic estate and its beautiful gardens.