grow

[ groh ]
See synonyms for grow on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object),grew [groo], /gru/, grown [grohn], /groʊn/, grow·ing [groh-ing]. /ˈgroʊ ɪŋ/.
  1. to increase by natural development, as any living organism or part by assimilation of nutriment; increase in size or substance.

  2. to form and increase in size by a process of inorganic accretion, as by crystallization.

  1. to arise or issue as a natural development from an original happening, circumstance, or source: Our friendship grew from common interests.

  2. to increase gradually in size, amount, etc.; become greater or larger; expand: His influence has grown.

  3. to become gradually attached or united by or as if by growth: The branches of the trees grew together, forming a natural arch.

  4. to come to be by degrees; become: to grow old.

  5. Nautical. to lie or extend in a certain direction, as an anchor cable.

verb (used with object),grew [groo], /gru/, grown [grohn], /groʊn/, grow·ing [groh-ing]. /ˈgroʊ ɪŋ/.
  1. to cause to grow: They grow corn.

  2. to allow to grow: to grow a beard.

  1. to cover with a growth (used in the passive): a field grown with corn.

Verb Phrases
  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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

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

Origin of grow

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English growen, Old English grōwan; cognate with Dutch groeien, Old High German grouwan, Old Norse grōa

Other words for grow

Opposites for grow

Other words from grow

  • grow·a·ble, adjective
  • re·grow, verb, re·grew, re·grown, re·grow·ing.

Words Nearby grow

Other definitions for Grow (2 of 2)

Grow
[ groh ]

noun
  1. 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

British Dictionary definitions for grow

grow

/ (ɡrəʊ) /


verbgrows, growing, grew (ɡruː) or grown (ɡrəʊn)
  1. (of an organism or part of an organism) to increase in size or develop (hair, leaves, or other structures)

  2. (intr; usually foll by out of or from) to originate, as from an initial cause or source: the federation grew out of the Empire

  1. (intr) to increase in size, number, degree, etc: the population is growing rapidly

  2. (intr) to change in length or amount in a specified direction: some plants grow downwards; profits over the years grew downwards

  3. (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

  4. (intr usually foll by up) to come into existence: a close friendship grew up between them

  5. (intr foll by together) to be joined gradually by or as by growth: the branches on the tree grew together

  6. (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

  7. (when intr, foll by with) to become covered with a growth: the path grew with weeds

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

Origin of grow

1
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

Other 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

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.