Develop over time

GESTATE

Think of how some ideas or living things slowly take shape before fully forming, like a process that happens in the womb or the mind.

"Develop over time" hints at a gradual process, and "gestate" fits perfectly as it means to grow or develop slowly, like a fetus in the womb. The word is often used literally for pregnancy but can also describe ideas or projects maturing over time. There’s no wordplay here—it’s a straightforward definition clue where the answer directly matches the meaning.