grow up
Britishverb
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to reach maturity; become adult
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to come into existence; develop
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Become an adult, as in Sam wants to be a policeman when he grows up . [First half of 1500s]
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Come into existence, arise, as in Similar social problems grew up in all the big cities . [Late 1500s]
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Become mature or sensible, as in It's time you grew up and faced the facts . This usage may also be in the form of an imperative (as in Don't bite your nails—grow up! ) [Mid-1900s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They grow up in this environment where they’re asking, “What are they offering me other than just a lecture?”
From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026
Scientists have long known that stars like our Sun expand dramatically once they run out of hydrogen in their cores, becoming red giants that can grow up to 100 times their original size.
From Science Daily • Mar. 24, 2026
"Their return could be a reminder of those values, encouraging conversations about identity, dreams, mental health, and what it means to grow up in a complex world," she told AFP.
From Barron's • Mar. 21, 2026
And like anyone who has had to grow up too quickly, she struggles to attain real maturity.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026
Eventually even the most coddled child has to grow up.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
