grow

[groh]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR grow ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), grew, grown, grow·ing.

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.

verb (used with object), grew, grown, grow·ing.

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.

Verb Phrases

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

grow a pair, Slang: Vulgar. pair¹(def 23).

Origin of grow

before 900; Middle English growen, Old English grōwan; cognate with Dutch groeien, Old High German grouwan, Old Norse grōa

Related formsgrow·a·ble, adjectivere·grow, verb, re·grew, re·grown, re·grow·ing.

Synonyms for grow

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR grow ON THESAURUS.COM

1. develop, multiply, swell, enlarge, expand, extend. 3. originate. 4. wax. 8. raise, cultivate, produce.

Antonyms for grow

1. decrease. 4. wane.

Grow

[groh]

noun

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. 2019

Related Words for grow

widen, sprout, cultivate, develop, raise, flourish, breed, increase, spread, build, thrive, swell, rise, produce, gain, multiply, come, expand, advance, age

Examples from the Web for grow

Contemporary Examples of grow

We need to recover and grow the idea that the proper answer to bad speech is more and better speech.
How the PC Police Threaten Free Speech
Nick Gillespie
January 9, 2015
Any plans to grow her exercise movement must, she insists, remain “completely organic.”
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze
Lizzie Crocker
January 9, 2015
The genetic material can grow quickly, but are typically riddled with errors or defects.
Design Your Own Dinosaur: The Era of Custom DNA
Justin Jones
January 8, 2015
All of my stories are about people trying hard not to grow up.
Here’s the Lost Judd Apatow ‘Simpsons’ Episode, Penned by Judd Apatow
Asawin Suebsaeng
January 6, 2015
Plenty of Jewish kids today grow up with a Christmas tree next to their menorah.
Harry Potter and the Torah of Terror
Candida Moss, Joel Baden
January 4, 2015

Historical Examples of grow

It looks as if the dew was on it; but the tears will not make it grow again—will they?
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
"You grow dearer every minute," she assured them on her last night at home.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus
Jessie Graham Flower
If you grow up and have muscles like them, you can call yourself a man.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
My land would not grow corn enough, or good enough for my necessity.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
What do they do but live and suck in sustenance and grow fat?
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle

British Dictionary definitions for grow

grow

verb grows, growing, grew (ɡruː) or grown (ɡrəʊn)

(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 sourcethe federation grew out of the Empire

(intr) to increase in size, number, degree, etcthe population is growing rapidly

(intr) to change in length or amount in a specified directionsome 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 graduallyto grow cold; to grow morose; he grew to like her

(intr usually foll by up) to come into existencea close friendship grew up between them

(intr foll by together) to be joined gradually by or as by growththe branches on the tree grew together

(intr; foll by away, together, etc) to develop a specified state of friendshipthe lovers grew together gradually; many friends grow apart over the years

(when intr, foll by with) to become covered with a growththe path grew with weeds

to produce (plants) by controlling or encouraging their growth, esp for home consumption or on a commercial basis

See also grow into, grow on, grow out of, grow up

Word Origin for grow

Old English grōwan; related to Old Norse grōa, Old Frisian grōia, Old High German gruoen; see green, grass

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

Word Origin and History for grow

Old English growan (of plants) "to grow, flourish, increase, develop, get bigger" (class VII strong verb; past tense greow, past participle growen), from Proto-Germanic *gro- (cf. Old Norse groa, Old Frisian groia, Dutch groeien, Old High German gruoen), from PIE root *ghre- (see grass). Applied in Middle English to human beings (c.1300) and animals (early 15c.) and their parts, supplanting Old English weaxan (see wax (v.)).

Have you ever heard anything about God, Topsy? ... Do you know who made you?" "Nobody, as I knows on," said the child. ... "I spect I grow'd. Don't think nobody never made me." [Harriet B. Stowe, "Uncle Tom's Cabin," 1851]

grow in Medicine

grow

[grō]

v.

To increase in size by a natural process.

To develop and reach maturity.

To be capable of growth; thrive.

Idioms and Phrases with grow

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