English Reference
noun

growth

n.
US /ˈɡɹoʊθ/ UK /ɡɹˈəʊθ/ growth UK spelling growths

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate Science

    the process of a person, animal, or plant getting bigger and older.

    the process of increasing in physical size or maturing toward adulthood.

    Simple

    The doctor checked the child's growth to make sure she was healthy.

    In context

    Hormonal imbalances during adolescence can significantly disrupt the normal patterns of physical growth and bone density development.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    an increase in the number, amount, or level of something.

    a quantitative increase in size, number, value, or intensity.

    Simple

    The city has seen a rapid growth in population over the last ten years.

    In context

    The unexpected growth in consumer demand caught the manufacturers off guard, leading to widespread shortages across the retail sector.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Academic Economics

    an increase in the value of goods and services produced by a country.

    an increase in the capacity of an economy to produce goods and services, compared from one period of time to another.

    Simple

    The government is trying to encourage economic growth by lowering taxes.

    In context

    Economists argue that sustainable growth cannot be achieved without significant investment in green energy infrastructure and education.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the process of becoming more mature or confident as a person.

    the development of psychological or emotional resilience and maturity.

    Simple

    Living in a foreign country led to a lot of personal growth for him.

    In context

    The challenges she faced during her first year as a manager provided a steep learning curve and immense professional growth.

    self improvementadvancement
  5. 05 C1 Advanced Literary

    a mass of something that has grown, like hair on a face or plants in a garden.

    something that has grown or is currently growing, often referring to a thicket of plants or facial hair.

    Simple

    He returned from the camping trip with a thick growth of beard.

    In context

    A dense growth of ivy covered the ancient stone walls, hiding the windows from view.

  6. 06 B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Medicine

    an abnormal mass of cells growing in or on the body.

    a discrete mass of abnormal tissue, such as a tumor or cyst.

    Simple

    The surgeon removed a small growth from the patient's shoulder.

    In context

    Biopsy results confirmed that the growth was benign, though the patient was advised to monitor the area for any further changes.

Usage growth rate · economic growth · encourage growth


From grow + -th (abstract nominal suffix). Compare Old Frisian grēd ("meadow, pasture"; > North Frisian greyde (“growth, pasture”)), Middle High German gruote, gruot (“greens, fresh growth, shoot”), Old Norse gróðr ("growth, crop"; > Faroese grøði, Danish grøde (“fruits”), Swedish gröda (“crop, harvest”)). More at grow.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Very common
Updated