grow
to increase by natural development, as any living organism or part by assimilation of nutriment; increase in size or substance.
to form and increase in size by a process of inorganic accretion, as by crystallization.
to arise or issue as a natural development from an original happening, circumstance, or source: Our friendship grew from common interests.
to increase gradually in size, amount, etc.; become greater or larger; expand: His influence has grown.
to become gradually attached or united by or as if by growth: The branches of the trees grew together, forming a natural arch.
to come to be by degrees; become: to grow old.
Nautical. to lie or extend in a certain direction, as an anchor cable.
to cause to grow: They grow corn.
to allow to grow: to grow a beard.
to cover with a growth (used in the passive): a field grown with corn.
grow into,
to become large enough for: He'll grow into his brother's suits before long.
to become mature or experienced enough for: She grew into the job, although she wasn't qualified for it at first.
grow on / upon
to increase in influence or effect: An uneasy feeling grew upon him as he went through the old house.
to become gradually more liked or accepted by: a village by the sea that grows on one.
grow out of,
to become too large or mature for; outgrow: He has grown out of all his clothes.
to originate in; develop from: The plan grew out of a casual conversation.
grow up,
to be or become fully grown; attain mental or physical maturity.
to come into existence; arise: New cities grew up in the desert.
Idioms about grow
grow a pair, Slang: Vulgar. pair1 (def. 23).
Origin of grow
1Other words for grow
Opposites for grow
Other words from grow
- grow·a·ble, adjective
- re·grow, verb, re·grew, re·grown, re·grow·ing.
Other definitions for Grow (2 of 2)
Ga·lu·sha Aaron [guh-loo-shuh], /gəˈlu ʃə/, 1822–1907, U.S. political leader: Speaker of the House 1861–63.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use grow in a sentence
Eventually, the mistletoe bush grows, blooms, and forms berries, and the cycle begins anew.
Her followers love her honesty and the popularity of the blog grows.
Meet Zoella—The Newbie Author Whose Book Sales Topped J.K. Rowling | Lucy Scholes | December 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTDuarte owns a small plot of land where she grazes cattle and grows beans, maize, bananas, and oranges.
China’s Nicaragua Canal Could Spark a New Central America Revolution | Nina Lakhani | November 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAs we approach the rumble of guns grows louder and alternates with the whir of cannonballs, which begin to attract his attention.
And as our political life grows more divided and acrimonious, so will our legal system.
A Reminder: Our Justices are Politicians in Robes | Jedediah Purdy | November 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The Variegated Horsetail is not exclusively maritime, however, for it sometimes grows by the sides of rivers and ponds.
How to Know the Ferns | S. Leonard BastinHe who has attained it grows giddy, and the fiercest winds are summoned to blow him from his eminence.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterAs observation widens and grows finer, the first bald representation becomes fuller and more life-like.
Children's Ways | James SullyWe have for the upper table, or front, a thin slab of wood known as pine, from a species of tree that grows all over the world.
Antonio Stradivari | Horace William PetherickThe plant attains a large size, and grows with a luxuriance common to all products grown in the famous "blue grass" region.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.
British Dictionary definitions for grow
/ (ɡrəʊ) /
(of an organism or part of an organism) to increase in size or develop (hair, leaves, or other structures)
(intr; usually foll by out of or from) to originate, as from an initial cause or source: the federation grew out of the Empire
(intr) to increase in size, number, degree, etc: the population is growing rapidly
(intr) to change in length or amount in a specified direction: some plants grow downwards; profits over the years grew downwards
(copula; may take an infinitive) (esp of emotions, physical states, etc) to develop or come into existence or being gradually: to grow cold; to grow morose; he grew to like her
(intr usually foll by up) to come into existence: a close friendship grew up between them
(intr foll by together) to be joined gradually by or as by growth: the branches on the tree grew together
(intr; foll by away, together, etc) to develop a specified state of friendship: the lovers grew together gradually; many friends grow apart over the years
(when intr, foll by with) to become covered with a growth: the path grew with weeds
to produce (plants) by controlling or encouraging their growth, esp for home consumption or on a commercial basis
Origin of grow
1- See also grow into, grow on, grow out of, grow up
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with grow
In addition to the idioms beginning with grow
- growing pains
- grow into
- grow on
- grow out of
- grow up
also see:
- absence makes the heart grow fonder
- let the grass grow under one's feet
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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