# growth

/ˈɡɹoʊθ/ (US) · /ɡɹˈəʊθ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/growth
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physical development

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- The doctor checked the child's growth to make sure she was healthy.
- Hormonal imbalances during adolescence can significantly disrupt the normal patterns of physical growth and bone density development.

### 2. increase in amount

noun · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: a quantitative increase in size, number, value, or intensity.

- The city has seen a rapid growth in population over the last ten years.
- The unexpected growth in consumer demand caught the manufacturers off guard, leading to widespread shortages across the retail sector.

### 3. economic success

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

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

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

- The government is trying to encourage economic growth by lowering taxes.
- Economists argue that sustainable growth cannot be achieved without significant investment in green energy infrastructure and education.

### 4. personal improvement

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: the development of psychological or emotional resilience and maturity.

- Living in a foreign country led to a lot of personal growth for him.
- The challenges she faced during her first year as a manager provided a steep learning curve and immense professional growth.

### 5. something that has grown

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

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

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

- He returned from the camping trip with a thick growth of beard.
- A dense growth of ivy covered the ancient stone walls, hiding the windows from view.

### 6. medical tumor

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

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

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

- The surgeon removed a small growth from the patient's shoulder.
- Biopsy results confirmed that the growth was benign, though the patient was advised to monitor the area for any further changes.

## Examples

- The plant showed rapid growth after we moved it to a sunny window.
- The company experienced significant financial growth this year, allowing them to hire fifty new employees.
- Urban planners must carefully manage city growth to ensure that infrastructure, such as public transport and water sanitation, keeps pace with the expanding population.

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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.