# outgrow

/ˌaʊtˈɡɹoʊ/ (US) · /aʊtɡɹˈəʊ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/outgrow
Updated: 2026-10-14

## Definition

to grow too big for something, like clothes or shoes that no longer fit you. You also use it when you stop enjoying something as you get older.

For teachers: to become too large for something to still fit or hold; to leave behind an interest, habit, or behaviour through natural growth or maturity.

## Examples

- Children quickly outgrow their shoes.
- He kept his old bike for years, but at fourteen he finally outgrew it and needed a larger one.
- She had once loved loud parties, but in her late twenties she outgrew that life and began to prefer quiet evenings with close friends.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.

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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.