Phrasal verb
grow apart
Definition
phrasal verb. to slowly lose a close relationship with someone as you both change over time. You stop sharing the same interests or feelings.
phrasal verb. to gradually become less intimate or friendly, typically as a result of diverging interests or personal development. The verb is intransitive and functions without a direct object.
Examples
“My best friend and I started to grow apart after high school.”
“After ten years of marriage, they realized they had grown apart and decided to separate amicably.”
“Sociologists suggest that couples who fail to communicate their evolving personal goals often grow apart as their individual identities diverge over several decades.”
Examples
simple
“My best friend and I started to grow apart after high school.”
contextual
“After ten years of marriage, they realized they had grown apart and decided to separate amicably.”
complex
“Sociologists suggest that couples who fail to communicate their evolving personal goals often grow apart as their individual identities diverge over several decades.”
Usage
This verb is intransitive and is often used with 'from' if the other person is mentioned.
Teaching tip
Contrast with 'drift apart', which suggests a more passive or accidental loss of connection compared to the developmental change implied by 'grow'.
Pitfall
They grew apart each other.
They grew apart from each other.
The phrase is intransitive, so it requires the preposition 'from' to connect to a person.
Phrasal verb
Particles
apart
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
grow + apart
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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