grow
Pronounced:
/ˈgroʊ/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
grows; grew /ˈgru:/ grown /ˈgroʊn/ grow·ing Meaning:
1 [no obj] : to become larger : to increase in size, amount, etc. ▪ The city is growing rapidly/dramatically. ▪ The list of chores to do this weekend keeps growing. —often + in ▪ The sport is growing in popularity. [=is becoming more popular] ▪ The school has grown (considerably/greatly) in size. ▪ His followers continue to grow in number. [=to become more numerous]
2 [no obj] : to become better or improved in some way : to become more developed, mature, etc. ▪ She grew intellectually and emotionally in her first year at college. ▪ It's wonderful to see how she has grown as a person since going to college.
3 [no obj] : to become larger and change from being a child to being an adult as time passes : to pass from childhood to adulthood ▪ It can be hard to watch our children change as they grow. ▪ He's still just a growing boy. ▪ She's grown (by) at least an inch since the last time I saw her.
4 a [no obj] of a plant : to exist and develop ▪ These trees grow only in the jungle. ▪ As the tree grew taller, the branches began to touch the house. ▪ This plant does well in difficult growing conditions. [=conditions in which it is difficult for most plants to grow] ▪ The flowers grow wild [=grow naturally without being planted or cared for by humans] along the highway. b [+ obj] : to cause (a plant) to grow : to cultivate or raise (a plant) ▪ She grows tomatoes in her garden. ▪ The plant is grown for its colorful flowers.
5 of hair, fingernails, etc. : to become longer [no obj] ▪ She's letting her hair grow a little. ▪ His fingernails grow quickly. [+ obj] ▪ She's growing her hair long. ▪ He tried to grow a beard/mustache. [=to have a beard/mustache by letting the hair on his face grow] —see also grow out 1 (below)
6 a always followed by an adjective [linking verb] : become ▪ He suddenly grew pale. ▪ He had grown tired of hearing about their problems. ▪ She grew fat due to her lack of exercise. ▪ He's worried about growing old. ▪ These diseases are growing more common. ▪ We have grown accustomed to his angry outbursts. b [no obj] : to have or form an opinion, attitude, etc., after time passes —followed by to + verb ▪ She's grown to like her new job. ▪ I grew to admire her very much. ▪ I grew to feel that these problems were not important. ▪ She grew to hate him for his selfishness.
7 [+ obj] : to cause (something, such as a business) to develop or get bigger ▪ These changes should allow us to grow the company while reducing waste. ▪ He claims that his proposals will help grow the economy.
2 [no obj] : to become better or improved in some way : to become more developed, mature, etc. ▪ She grew intellectually and emotionally in her first year at college. ▪ It's wonderful to see how she has grown as a person since going to college.
3 [no obj] : to become larger and change from being a child to being an adult as time passes : to pass from childhood to adulthood ▪ It can be hard to watch our children change as they grow. ▪ He's still just a growing boy. ▪ She's grown (by) at least an inch since the last time I saw her.
4 a [no obj] of a plant : to exist and develop ▪ These trees grow only in the jungle. ▪ As the tree grew taller, the branches began to touch the house. ▪ This plant does well in difficult growing conditions. [=conditions in which it is difficult for most plants to grow] ▪ The flowers grow wild [=grow naturally without being planted or cared for by humans] along the highway. b [+ obj] : to cause (a plant) to grow : to cultivate or raise (a plant) ▪ She grows tomatoes in her garden. ▪ The plant is grown for its colorful flowers.
5 of hair, fingernails, etc. : to become longer [no obj] ▪ She's letting her hair grow a little. ▪ His fingernails grow quickly. [+ obj] ▪ She's growing her hair long. ▪ He tried to grow a beard/mustache. [=to have a beard/mustache by letting the hair on his face grow] —see also grow out 1 (below)
6 a always followed by an adjective [linking verb] : become ▪ He suddenly grew pale. ▪ He had grown tired of hearing about their problems. ▪ She grew fat due to her lack of exercise. ▪ He's worried about growing old. ▪ These diseases are growing more common. ▪ We have grown accustomed to his angry outbursts. b [no obj] : to have or form an opinion, attitude, etc., after time passes —followed by to + verb ▪ She's grown to like her new job. ▪ I grew to admire her very much. ▪ I grew to feel that these problems were not important. ▪ She grew to hate him for his selfishness.
7 [+ obj] : to cause (something, such as a business) to develop or get bigger ▪ These changes should allow us to grow the company while reducing waste. ▪ He claims that his proposals will help grow the economy.
grow apart [phrasal verb]
: to become less friendly or emotionally close as time passes : to become distant from someone ▪ My wife and I have grown apart over the years.
grow from [phrasal verb]
grow from (something) : to come from or originate from (something) ▪ The company grew from an idea he had in college.
grow into [phrasal verb]
grow into (something) 1 : to become (something) as time passes ▪ She has grown into an accomplished and charming young woman. ▪ His small company has grown into a huge international corporation.
2 : to become large enough for (a certain size of clothing) ▪ Ben will grow into Billy's shoes in a year or two.
2 : to become large enough for (a certain size of clothing) ▪ Ben will grow into Billy's shoes in a year or two.
grow on [phrasal verb]
grow on (someone) : to become more appealing to (someone) as time passes ▪ Try the dish again—it grows on you. ▪ I didn't like him at first, but he's starting to grow on me.
grow on trees
informal : to exist in large amounts : to be easy to get ▪ Good jobs don't grow on trees. [=good jobs are hard to get] ▪ He acts as if money grows on trees.
grow out [phrasal verb]
1 grow (something) out or grow out (something) : to allow (something) to get longer ▪ She's growing out her hair. —see also grow 5 (above)
2 grow out of (something) a : to develop or come from (a source) ▪ The project grew out of a simple suggestion. ▪ This new theory grew out of their earlier research. b : to become too large for (a certain size of clothing) ▪ He quickly grew out of his clothes. —see also outgrow c : to stop doing or having (something) because you are older and more mature ▪ She hoped to grow out of her bad habits. ▪ He's wild now, but he'll grow out of it.
2 grow out of (something) a : to develop or come from (a source) ▪ The project grew out of a simple suggestion. ▪ This new theory grew out of their earlier research. b : to become too large for (a certain size of clothing) ▪ He quickly grew out of his clothes. —see also outgrow c : to stop doing or having (something) because you are older and more mature ▪ She hoped to grow out of her bad habits. ▪ He's wild now, but he'll grow out of it.
grow up [phrasal verb]
1 a : to become an adult ▪ She wants to be a firefighter when she grows up. —used to describe where you lived, what you did, etc., when you were a child ▪ I grew up in the city. ▪ We grew up poor, but we always had food on the table. ▪ He grew up playing music. [=he played music when he was a child] b : to stop thinking and behaving in a childish way ▪ It's time for him to grow up and start accepting his responsibilities. ▪ Oh, grow up! —see also grown-up
2 : to begin to exist and develop as time passes ▪ A number of villages and cities grew up along the river. ▪ A rivalry grew up between the villages.
2 : to begin to exist and develop as time passes ▪ A number of villages and cities grew up along the river. ▪ A rivalry grew up between the villages.
—grow·er /ˈgrowɚ/ noun plural grow·ers [count] ▪ corn/fruit growers ▪ This plant is known as a fast grower.
/ˈgrowɚ/ noun plural grow·ers [count] ▪ corn/fruit growers ▪ This plant is known as a fast grower.—growing adjective always used before a noun ▪ There is growing acceptance of the new plan. ▪ the growing popularity of this film ▪ There's a growing sense that he may be right.