grow

[ groh ]

/ groʊ /

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verb (used without object), grew [groo], /gru/, grown [grohn], /groʊn/, grow·ing [groh-ing]. /ˈgroʊ ɪŋ/.

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 [groo], /gru/, grown [grohn], /groʊn/, grow·ing [groh-ing]. /ˈgroʊ ɪŋ/.

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.

SYNONYMS FOR grow

1 develop, multiply, swell, enlarge, expand, extend.

3 originate.

4 wax.

8 raise, cultivate, produce.

See synonyms for grow on Thesaurus.com

ANTONYMS FOR grow

1 decrease.

4 wane.

See antonyms for grow on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms for grow

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

Origin of grow

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

OTHER WORDS FROM grow

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

Words nearby grow

Grove City, grovel, Grover, Groves, grovet, grow, growan, grow bag, growed, grower, growing

Definition for grow (2 of 2)

Grow

[ groh ]

/ groʊ /

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. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for grow

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|Freakonomics
For 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|Digiday
In 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|Fortune
Oracle just reported that its quarterly cloud services and licensing revenue grew 2% to almost $7 billion.
Meet Snowflake, one of the buzziest tech IPOs ever|Aaron Pressman|September 15, 2020|Fortune

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.
How the PC Police Threaten Free Speech|Nick Gillespie|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
It 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 Bastin
Of 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 Bastin
In 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 Bastin
The 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

grow

/ (ɡrəʊ) /

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

Medical definitions for grow

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

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grow

verb (used without object), grew [groo], /gru/, grown [grohn], /groʊn/, grow·ing [groh-ing]. /ˈgroʊ ɪŋ/.