# grow upon

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grow-upon
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to gradually start liking something or someone more as time passes.

For teachers: to become increasingly liked or appreciated by someone through gradual exposure or familiarity.

## Examples

- I didn't like this song at first, but it's starting to grow upon me.
- The quiet charm of the small village began to grow upon her after she stayed there for a month.
- While the architectural style initially seemed harsh and industrial, the building's clever use of light began to grow upon the critics over time.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am growing upon the new house." but "The new house is growing upon me." — the thing you like must be the subject, not the person doing the liking.

## Usage notes

- the subject is the thing being liked, and the object is the person who likes it.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'grow on', which is much more common in modern English; 'grow upon' is the more formal or literary variant of the same meaning.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.