grow
verb (used without object)
to increase by natural development, as any living organism or part by assimilation of nutriment; increase in size or substance.
grow
1 American
[groh]
/ groʊ /
verb (used without object)
-
grows,
present (3rd person singular)
-
grew,
past
-
grown,
past participle
-
growing
present participle
-
to increase by natural development, as any living organism or part by assimilation of nutriment; increase in size or substance.
- Antonyms:
- decrease
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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.
- Synonyms:
- originate
-
to increase gradually in size, amount, etc.; become greater or larger; expand.
His influence has grown.
- Synonyms:
- wax
- Antonyms:
- wane
-
to become gradually attached or united by or as if by growth.
The branches of the trees grew together, forming a natural arch.
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to come to be by degrees; become.
to grow old.
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Nautical. to lie or extend in a certain direction, as an anchor cable.
verb (used with object)
-
grows,
present (3rd person singular)
-
grew,
past
-
grown,
past participle
-
growing
present participle
verb phrase
-
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.
-
-
grow into
-
to become large enough for.
He'll grow into his brother's suits before long.
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to become mature or experienced enough for.
She grew into the job, although she wasn't qualified for it at first.
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idioms
Grow
2
American
[groh]
/ groʊ /
noun
grow
British
/ ɡrəʊ /
verb
-
(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
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(intr) to increase in size, number, degree, etc
the population is growing rapidly
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(intr) to change in length or amount in a specified direction
some plants grow downwards
profits over the years grew downwards
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(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
-
to come into existence
a close friendship grew up between them
-
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
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to become covered with a growth
the path grew with weeds
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to produce (plants) by controlling or encouraging their growth, esp for home consumption or on a commercial basis
grow
More Idioms
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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growsimple
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growssimple
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have grownperfect
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has grownperfect
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am growingprogressive
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are growingprogressive
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is growingprogressive
-
have been growingperfect progressive
-
has been growingperfect progressive
Past
-
grewsimple
-
had grownperfect
-
was growingprogressive
-
were growingprogressive
-
had been growingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of grow
First recorded before 900; Middle English growen, Old English grōwan; cognate with Dutch groeien, Old High German grouwan, Old Norse grōa
Explanation
To grow is to become larger, stronger, or more mature. A tiny seed grows into a leafy plant or a giant tree; babies grow and become adults and as they do, their knowledge of the world grows too! The verb grow describes something becoming greater than it once was. Living things start small and grow into adults, like kittens growing into cats and cubs growing into bears. But growing isn't limited to physical changes: Someone's knowledge can grow over time, and people can grow emotionally, becoming more positive, confident, and caring. When anything, living or not, becomes more, it grows — like the intensity of sunlight growing after dawn or a small business growing into a huge global success.
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.
See Examples For:
Even if they took the $1,000 and never added another cent to the account, the money could grow to approximately $5,000 in 18 years, according to one McKinsey & Co. estimate.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026
He left Larami in 1989 to start his own company focused on making impulse toys, like putty that can grow up to 25 times its original size when put in water.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
The charity collected 35,000 seeds last year that were used to grow new trees for planting, and hopes to increase this to 60,000 this year.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
Apple’s already the pack leader when it comes to wearables but its eager to grow that lead.
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
Each month the occupation seemed to grow harsher, restrictions more numerous.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
"We want the GLA to implement Right to Grow within its food and housing policies so it's easier for boroughs to sign on to the framework," she said.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
The list of challengers includes Colter Carlisle, vice president of the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council, Dylan Kendall, who runs Grow Hollywood, and Rich Sarian, vice president of strategic initiatives for downtown’s South Park Social District.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2026
In 1858, Rep. Galusha Grow of Pennsylvania knocked down Brooks’s friend Laurence Keitt of South Carolina, prompting a melee that drew in some 30 members of the House.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026
Excluding contributions from ironSource and Supersonic, revenue within Unity’s Grow unit rose 48% last quarter, “double the growth rate of the comparable metric inclusive of the two units.”
From Barron's ● Mar. 27, 2026
Then he said, “Slim it, Greenie. Grow up and start thinkin’.
From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner
Mitchell Yerxa and his family run a 3,500-acre farm in California’s Sacramento Valley that grows 16 crops, including tomatoes, walnuts and rice.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026
He insisted the Kenyan refinery would be just a small part of meeting the demand that Africa will create as its economy grows.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
An emerging artist releases an album, plays it in small venues, like clubs, and as the album grows in popularity the venues expand in size.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 29, 2026
These producers should also benefit if oil sand production grows and pushes up demand for condensate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
“No. Not that. We feel pain. But we don’t feel fear. So the pain is not a problem, unless it grows so bad that the body refuses to cooperate.”
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
With final figures in, the report notes that the state’s economy grew at a 3.7% rate in the first quarter, substantially higher than the 2.1% rate of the overall U.S. economy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
Other than North America, where revenues grew two percent, Nike saw declines in every other region.
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
Treasury yields were pushed higher a day earlier by data showing the U.S. economy grew much faster than expected in the second quarter, even as inflation was cooler than anticipated.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
Yet even with all the uncertainty, manufacturers grew in September for the ninth month in a row.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026
The sound grew as others picked it up.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
As a kid in Aberdeen, he'd grown up as a Celtic fan - something he says that required a thick skin.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
Barrera’s children are grown; Shaw’s still are in school.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
According to Olawuyi, that extra warmth helped covered plants reach the fruiting stage earlier than plants grown without the textile.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
However, in recent months, Wall Street has grown increasingly worried about the software giant’s AI investments.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026
He came out of the desk, long-legged, fully grown.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
Generation Z, now roughly 14 to 29 years old, is a growing portion of the electorate with about 50 million eligible voters in the upcoming midterm elections.
From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026
That will lead to jobs cuts — a small team of workers using AI already matches the output of a bigger company, growing without having to rely on years of hiring, with incumbency less important.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026
The sham thrust to the forefront a growing problem: Law enforcement agencies across the country increasingly are receiving photos and other evidence that’s been manipulated or wholly generated with artificial intelligence, experts say.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Promise an America that is, again, the premier global destination for building and growing business.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
I felt as if we were two small trees standing beside each other, leaning towards each other, our branches and twigs starting to entwine, bonded by our secret and by our growing friendship.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
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.
