Word
grow
US/ˈɡɹoʊ/
UK/ɡɹˈəʊ/
Forms
Infinitive
grow
Past
grew
Past participle
grown
Definitions
01to increase in size
v. to become larger in size, amount, or degree.
v. to increase in physical size, magnitude, or quantity through a natural or gradual process.
“The puppy is growing so fast that he needs a bigger bed already.”
“The company's market share continues to grow despite the entry of several aggressive new competitors into the sector.”
02to develop or mature
v. to develop or become more mature as a person.
v. to undergo natural development or progress toward maturity.
“She has grown into a very confident young woman since starting university.”
“The small startup has grown into a global enterprise with offices in over twenty countries.”
Antonyms
03to cultivate plants
v. to take care of plants and help them live.
v. to cultivate or produce a crop or plant; takes a direct object.
“My grandmother grows tomatoes and herbs in her small backyard garden.”
“Local farmers grow a variety of organic vegetables that are sold at the weekly market in the town square.”
Pitfall
He is growing his children well.
He is raising his children well.
Use 'grow' for plants and 'raise' or 'bring up' for children.
04to become
v. to gradually start to have a certain feeling or quality.
v. to assume a specific condition or quality over time; functions as a copular verb.
“As the night went on, the guests grew tired and started to leave.”
“The public grew increasingly impatient with the government's failure to address the rising cost of living.”
05to sprout or appear
v. to start to exist or appear in a specific place.
v. to spring up or come into existence by a natural process.
“Moss began to grow on the north side of the old stone wall.”
“Wildflowers grow in abundance along the coastal cliffs during the early spring months.”
Collocations
Word family
Related words
Idioms
absence makes the heart grow fonder — One feels more love or affection for those one loves when parted from them.
grow a pair — To be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation in which one has so far failed to do so.
grow a set — Synonym of grow a pair.
grow a tail — to be nearly about to defecate, to the point of being unable to completely hold it in
grow apart — To gradually become estranged.
grow cold — To wane; to lose interest or enthusiasm for something or someone; to become disenchanted or to fall out of love with someone.
grow on — To become more likeable to someone.
grow out of — To become too physically large for something, especially clothes.
grow some balls — To be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation where one has so far failed to do so.
grow up — To stop acting as or like a child (often used as an imperative interjection).
Show all 13
hear the grass grow — To have an extremely sensitive sense of hearing.
let the grass grow under one's feet — To dally; to fail to make progress.
not grow on trees — To be rare, not abundant, not easily acquired.
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