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.
Words Nearby grow
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. 2023
How to use grow in a sentence
Between 1920 and 1980, it was one of the fastest-growing countries in the world.
Does Anyone Really Know What Socialism Is? (Ep. 408 Rebroadcast) | Stephen J. Dubner | September 17, 2020 | FreakonomicsFor as much as streaming has grown, traditional TV has remained the dominant medium among audiences and advertisers.
How the future of TV and streaming has – and hasn’t – been reshaped so far by 2020 | Tim Peterson | September 16, 2020 | DigidayIn recent weeks, every day has been growing compared to the previous day.
Are you ready to start traveling for work again? TripActions’ CEO is banking on it | Michal Lev-Ram, writer | September 15, 2020 | FortuneOracle just reported that its quarterly cloud services and licensing revenue grew 2% to almost $7 billion.
The millions of people moving north will mostly head to the cities of the Northeast and Northwest, which will see their populations grow by roughly 10%, according to one model.
Climate Change Will Force a New American Migration | by Abrahm Lustgarten, photography by Meridith Kohut | September 15, 2020 | ProPublica
We need to recover and grow the idea that the proper answer to bad speech is more and better speech.
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 DAILY BEASTThe genetic material can grow quickly, but are typically riddled with errors or defects.
He felt his body grow limp (like one of those high-speed films of a flower wilting).
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’ | Asawin Suebsaeng | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAll 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 | THE DAILY BEASTIt goes without saying that Ferns of all kinds are interesting plants to grow in the garden and house.
How to Know the Ferns | S. Leonard BastinOf course it is only the hardiest Ferns which can be expected to grow well in the town garden.
How to Know the Ferns | S. Leonard BastinIn such conditions many kinds which do not flourish very freely in the open garden, grow into handsome specimens.
How to Know the Ferns | S. Leonard BastinThe flowers grow in clusters from the extremities of the stalk; they are yellow externally and of a delicate red within.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.“I hope he will grow up to be a true comfort to you, M. Pujol,” said Miss Janet.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. Locke
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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