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developing

USdi-VEL-uh-ping/dɪˈvɛl.ə.pɪŋ/

4 meanings of developing

Practice

  1. 1
    build or getverb
    Present participle and gerund of develop.

    The studio is developing three new films at the same time.

    Developing renewable energy sources requires significant investment.

    Note

    One spelling does two jobs here. After be, it forms the progressive (the storm is developing). In noun positions it acts as a gerund (developing new sources is costly). The verb behind it covers steady growth, creation, and the darkroom work of bringing out latent images on film, and it can take an object or go without one. Before a noun with no object, the same form is usually the adjective for growing things.

  2. 2
    country (economy)adjective
    Describing a country in the process of becoming economically more mature, more advanced, and more industrialized.

    Foreign investment often flows into developing economies that are seeking faster growth.

    The report compared health care across several developing nations.

    UsageUsually before a noun: developing countries, the developing world. The opposite is developed.

    Similaremerging

    Oppositeindustrialized, advanced

    Note

    Economics narrows the general "still growing" sense to a single subject, a country, and the growth in question is economic, industrialization above all. The participle keeps the process open: the country is described as on its way rather than at an end point.

  3. 3
    taking shapeadjective
    Still in the process of growing, changing, or being formed into a more complete state.

    The developing embryo undergoes rapid cell division in its first weeks.

    Forecasters tracked the developing storm as it gained strength over the ocean.

    Similaremerging

    Oppositemature

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    noununcountable
    The process by which something is gradually formed, advanced, or brought into being.

    Much of a good manager's job is the coaching and developing of the people who report to her.

    The researching and developing of a new vaccine can cost a drug company hundreds of millions of dollars.

    UsageThe usual noun is development. Developing also occurs in noun phrases such as the developing of new skills.

    Similarevolution, formation, growth

    Note

    As a noun it usually stands without a plural, though a plural is possible: The Christian Witness and Church Members' Magazine, edited by John Campbell in 1854, speaks of "the developings of an inscrutable Providence," meaning the separate turns of events as they unfold.

developing is a form of develop

develop, verb: To grow or change gradually, becoming larger, more advanced, or more complete. Full entry

Forms
developdevelops he/she/itdeveloping -ing formdeveloped past tense, past participle
Spelling
develop → developing: add -ing

Practice

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