Phrasal verb
grow back
Definition
phrasal verb. to start growing again after being cut or lost.
phrasal verb. to regrow or return to a previous state of growth following removal, loss, or pruning; typically used in biological contexts such as hair, plants, or limbs.
Examples
“My hair will grow back soon.”
“If you cut the grass too short in the summer, it might not grow back quickly.”
“Biologists are studying how certain reptiles possess the unique ability to grow back their tails after escaping a predator.”
Examples
simple
“My hair will grow back soon.”
contextual
“If you cut the grass too short in the summer, it might not grow back quickly.”
complex
“Biologists are studying how certain reptiles possess the unique ability to grow back their tails after escaping a predator.”
Usage
usually used intransitively, but can be used transitively when referring to specific body parts or plant sections.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'regrow' to show how phrasal verbs often provide the more common, everyday alternative to Latinate verbs in English.
Pitfall
My hair will grow it back.
My hair will grow back.
when the subject is the thing growing, the verb is intransitive and does not take an object.
Phrasal verb
Particles
back
Separability
optional
Pattern
grow + back
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/grow-back