verb

entwickeln

develop

Es bedeutet, etwas wachsen oder besser werden zu lassen. Man kann dabei neue Ideen, Dinge oder Fähigkeiten entstehen lassen.

Definition & meaning

Entwickeln means to develop. Its meaning depends on context:

To create, design, or work out an idea, plan, product, or method.
To grow, progress, or change over time, either for a person, an organization, or a situation. The reflexive form means to develop or to evolve.
In photography, to develop film or photographs.
To develop or acquire a skill, habit, or condition.

Grammar & Word origin

Entwickeln is a regular verb. Its principal forms are entwickelt (), entwickelte (, and hat entwickelt (. It can be used with an object—such as developing a plan—or reflexively, meaning that something develops or evolves on its own.

The word combines ent- (, a prefix that can suggest removal or reversal, with wickeln (, meaning “to wrap.” The original image is something being unwrapped or unfolded; from this, the sense of something gradually taking shape or being brought out developed.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms vary with the intended meaning:

ausarbeiten ( means to work out or elaborate a plan in detail; it is narrower than entwickeln.
entwerfen ( means to design or draft something, especially a plan or model.
herstellen ( means to manufacture or produce something physically.
sich entfalten ( means to unfold or realize one’s potential; it often emphasizes natural growth.
sich verändern ( means to change, without necessarily implying progress or growth.

There is no single antonym for all senses of entwickeln. Depending on context, possible opposites include:

zerstören ( — to destroy something that has been created or developed.
verkümmern ( — to wither or fail to develop, especially of abilities or living things.

Common phrases & collocations

eine Idee entwickeln ( — to develop an idea.
einen Plan entwickeln ( — to devise a plan.
eine Software entwickeln ( — to develop software.
sich weiterentwickeln ( — to continue developing or to make further progress.
einen Film entwickeln ( — to develop a photographic film.