Develop
Develop verb - To gradually become clearer or more detailed.
Usage example: as the story of the bombing developed, the scope of the tragedy became more apparent
Evolve is a synonym for develop in grow topic. In some cases you can use "Evolve" instead a verb "Develop", when it comes to topics like expand, cultivate, show, unfold. popular alternative
Evolve
Evolve verb - To gradually become clearer or more detailed.
Usage example: as the governor's plans for the reform of state government evolved, objections from various groups inevitably arose
Develop is a synonym for evolve in grow topic. You can use "Develop" instead a verb "Evolve", if it concerns topics such as activity, show, work out, expand. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Common collocations
| ability | develop ability | evolve ability |
| skill | develop skill | evolve skill |
| character | develop character | evolve character |
| power | develop power | evolve power |
| Other words: life, kind, style, relationship, society, form, system, way, characters, technology, language, immunity, intelligence, skills, traits, powers, weapons, superpowers. | ||
Both words in one sentence
- Similarly, the infected armies begin to grow in effectiveness as they develop and evolve.
Source: Sorting Algorithm of Evil - Although they evolve/develop a bit during the second season, the characters generally remain married to their respective high school stereotypes.
Source: Series / Salute Your Shorts - They existed in a hyper-advanced technological state more than ten million years ago, not to mention however many thousands of years it took for their species to evolve and develop technology for the first time.
Source: Literature / Halo: Silentium
Cite this Source
Evolve and Develop. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 13, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/develop/evolve
Develop & Evolve. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/develop/evolve>.
Evolve or Develop. 2016. Accessed August 13, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/develop/evolve.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "develop" and "evolve" have occurred on timeline