grow up
To stop acting as or like a child (often used as an imperative interjection).
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“You need to grow up and take responsibility for your actions.”
“Stop crying about the small scratch on your car and grow up.”
“You should grow up and apologize for your rude behavior.”
“When he started making silly jokes during the serious meeting, his manager told him it was time to grow up.”
“My brother finally decided to grow up and move into his own apartment after living with our parents for ten years.”
“She realized she had to grow up quickly when she became the main person in charge of the family business.”
“Despite his advanced age, he refused to grow up, preferring to spend his days chasing fleeting pleasures rather than addressing the realities of his life.”
The term is a dissimilation of the Middle English *upgrowen*, which followed the Germanic pattern of placing the adverbial particle before the verb. The modern arrangement, established by the Early Modern English period, reversed the elements to the current phrasal verb structure.
- 01
absence makes the heart grow fonder
One feels more love or affection for those one loves when parted from them.
- 02
grow a pair
To be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation in which one has so far failed to do so.
- 03
grow a set
Synonym of grow a pair.
- 04
grow a tail
to be nearly about to defecate, to the point of being unable to completely hold it in
- 05
grow apart
To gradually become estranged.
- 06
grow cold
To wane; to lose interest or enthusiasm for something or someone; to become disenchanted or to fall out of love with someone.
- 07
grow on
To become more likeable to someone.
- 08
grow out of
To become too physically large for something, especially clothes.
Last updated August 10, 2026