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grow Listen to audio/ˈgroʊ/ verb
grows; grew Listen to audio/ˈgru:/; grown Listen to audio/ˈgroʊn/; grow·ing
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.
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.
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.
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.
— grow·er Listen to audio /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.

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