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Definitions

developing

[dih-vel-uh-ping] / dɪˈvɛl ə pɪŋ /
ADJECTIVE
changing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
changeable dynamic growing uncertain unstable
STRONG
altering alternating modifying wavering
WEAK
inconstant irresolute mobile unsteady
Antonyms
STRONGEST
certain stable steady sure
WEAK
fixed unchanging
ADJECTIVE
embryonic
Synonyms
STRONGEST
evolving immature incipient undeveloped
WEAK
beginning early elementary germinal
Antonyms
STRONGEST
adult developed grown mature
ADJECTIVE
emergent
Synonyms
WEAK
appearing budding coming efflorescent emanant emanating issuing forth outgoing rising
Antonyms
WEAK
declining dependent
ADJECTIVE
green
Synonyms
STRONGEST
fresh grassy leafy lush raw tender verdant
STRONG
budding burgeoning flourishing foliate growing immature infant juvenile maturing pullulating recent sprouting supple unripe
WEAK
bosky callow half-formed pliable puerile undecayed undried unfledged ungrown verduous youthful
Antonyms
STRONGEST
healthy
STRONG
adult dying mature old shrinking withering
WEAK
withered
ADJECTIVE
growing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
burgeoning expanding flourishing spreading thriving viable
STRONG
amplifying animate augmenting budding crescent dilating enlarging fructifying germinating living maturing mushrooming pullulating sprouting stretching swelling waxing
WEAK
crescive
Antonyms
STRONGEST
failing languishing
STRONG
dead dying shrinking
WEAK
lessening withering
ADJECTIVE
improving
Synonyms
STRONG
bettering correcting elaborating fixing remodeling repairing
WEAK
convalescent
ADJECTIVE
increasing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
expanding growing rising
STRONG
accumulating augmenting booming broadening enlarging flourishing maturing multiplying proliferating snowballing sprouting swelling waxing widening
WEAK
getting big piling up
ADJECTIVE
infant/infantile
Synonyms
WEAK
baby babyish callow childish childlike early emergent green growing immature infantine initial juvenile kid naive nascent newborn puerile tender unfledged unripe weak youthful
Antonyms
WEAK
adult grown-up mature
ADJECTIVE
juvenile
Synonyms
STRONGEST
youthful
STRONG
adolescent blooming budding formative green growing infant junior tender young
WEAK
babyish beardless boyish callow childlike fresh girlish immature inexperienced infantile jejune kid stuff milk-fed naive pubescent puerile teenage undeveloped unfledged unripe unsophisticated unweaned vernal younger
Antonyms
STRONG
experienced mature old older shrinking withering
WEAK
adult grown-up
ADJECTIVE
living
Synonyms
STRONGEST
breathing contemporary
STRONG
alert animated awake brisk continuing current dynamic live operative persisting subsisting ticking warm
WEAK
alive around existent extant in use lively ongoing strong vigorous vital
Antonyms
STRONG
apathetic asleep inactive lethargic sluggish
WEAK
dead
ADJECTIVE
maturing
Synonyms
STRONG
advancing aging blossoming consummating evolving growing mellowing perfecting preparing sprouting sweetening
WEAK
growing up
Antonyms
WEAK
declining dying fading
ADJECTIVE
ongoing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
continuing current growing open-ended successful
WEAK
advancing evolving extant heading in process in progress marching progressing unfinished unfolding
Antonyms
WEAK
incontinuous infrequent intermittent stopping
ADJECTIVE
progressive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
growing progressing
STRONG
accelerating advancing continuing escalating evolving improving increasing intensifying
WEAK
advanced continuous dynamic enterprising go ahead graduated moving forward ongoing up-and-coming up-to-date
ADJECTIVE
revolutionary
Synonyms
STRONGEST
contemporary innovative modern radical
STRONG
avant-garde latest left novel
WEAK
advanced advancing cutting edge forward-looking just out open-minded state-of-the-art up-and-coming
Antonyms
STRONGEST
old old-fashioned
ADJECTIVE
thriving
Synonyms
STRONGEST
booming burgeoning flourishing growing healthy prosperous robust wealthy
STRONG
advancing arrived blooming cooking progressing prospering roaring rolling
WEAK
doing well going strong have it made have the wherewithal home free on top of heap prolific rich sitting pretty
Antonyms
STRONGEST
failing infirm poor unhealthy
WEAK
declining languishing losing
ADJECTIVE
young
Synonyms
STRONGEST
budding inexperienced new youthful
STRONG
adolescent blooming blossoming crude fledgling green growing infant inferior junior juvenile little modern newborn punk raw recent tender tenderfoot
WEAK
boyish boylike burgeoning callow childish childlike early fresh girlish girllike half-grown ignorant newish not aged pubescent puerile undeveloped undisciplined unfinished unfledged unlearned unpracticed unripe unseasoned untried unversed vernal
Antonyms
STRONGEST
experienced old
STRONG
adult healthy mature older sophisticated
NOUN
aging
Synonyms
STRONG
crumbling declining fading fermenting maturing mellowing slumping stale waning
WEAK
getting along getting on senescent wearing out
NOUN
blossoming
Synonyms
STRONGEST
flowering
STRONG
bloom budding flourishing thriving
Antonyms
WEAK
withering
NOUN
development
Synonyms
STRONGEST
advancement evolution expansion improvement increase progress
STRONG
addition adulthood advance augmentation boost buildup chrysalis enlargement flowering hike maturation maturity ontogenesis ontogeny progression reinforcement ripening spread spreading unfolding
WEAK
adding to advancing augmenting elaborating evolvement evolving increasing making progress maturing ongoing perfecting reinforcing unraveling upgrowth upping
Antonyms
STRONGEST
decline decrease halt retreat retrogression stoppage
STRONG
lessening reduction shrinkage stagnation withdrawal
NOUN
efflorescence
Synonyms
STRONG
anthesis flowering folding rash redness sprouting
NOUN
unfolding
Synonyms
STRONGEST
flowering
STRONG
addition adulthood advance advancement advancing augmentation augmenting boost buildup elaborating enlargement evolution evolving expansion growth hike improvement increase increasing maturation maturing maturity perfecting progress progression reinforcement reinforcing ripening spread spreading unraveling upping
WEAK
adding to evolvement making progress ongoing upgrowth
Antonyms
STRONG
decline decrease diminishment failure halt lessening loss reduction retreat retrogression shrinkage stagnation stop stoppage subtraction withdrawal

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Roman, which took more than $4 billion and over a decade to build, is named after astronomer Nancy Grace Roman, nicknamed the "Mother of Hubble" for her role in developing the landmark space telescope.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Philadelphia Eagles: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama — With Lane Johnson near the end of his career, the Eagles need to start developing a huge young successor.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

It could also help identify people at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, even before any symptoms appear.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

A decade ago, Ternus was among the top executives charged with developing AirPods.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

I did not know if I was developing an interest in boys, or if I would have washed my hair and put on my new blouse anyway.

From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg