grow

grow

verb \ˈgrō\

grew\ˈgrü\grown\ˈgrōn\grow·ing

Definition of GROW

intransitive verb

1

a : to spring up and develop to maturity b : to be able to grow in some place or situation <trees that grow in the tropics> c : to assume some relation through or as if through a process of natural growth <ferns growing from the rocks>

2

a : to increase in size by assimilation of material into the living organism or by accretion of material in a nonbiological process (as crystallization) b : increase, expand <grows in wisdom>

3

: to develop from a parent source <the book grew out of a series of lectures>

4

a : to pass into a condition : become <grew pale> b : to have an increasing influence <habit grows on a person> c : to become increasingly acceptable or attractive <didn't like it at first, but it grew on him>

transitive verb

1

a : to cause to grow <grow wheat> b : to let grow on the body <grew a beard>

2

: to promote the development of <start a business and grow it successfully — J. L. Deckter>

— grow·er \ˈgrō(-ə)r\ noun

— grow·ing·ly \ˈgrō-iŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of GROW

1. The city is growing rapidly.
2. The list of chores to do this weekend keeps growing.
3. She grew intellectually and emotionally in her first year at college.
4. It's wonderful to see how she has grown as a person since going to college.
5. It can be hard to watch our children change as they grow.
6. He's still just a growing boy.

Origin of GROW

Middle English, from Old English grōwan; akin to Old High German gruowan to grow

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to GROW

Synonyms: crop, cultivate, culture, dress, promote, raise, rear, tend

Related Words: breed, produce, propagate; plant, sow; gather, glean, harvest, reap; germinate, quicken, ripen, root, sprout

Near Antonyms: kill; dig, extirpate, pick, pluck, pull (up), uproot; cut, hay, mow

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with GROW

beau, blow, bow, bro, Chou, crow, do, doe, dough, floe, flow, foe, fro, froe, glow, go, ho, hoe, jo, Jo, joe, know, lo, low, mho, mot, mow, no, No, O, oh, owe, Poe, pow, pro, rho, roe, row, Rowe, schmo, sew, show, sloe, slow, snow, so, sow, stow, Stowe, strow, though, throe, throw, toe, tow, trow, whoa, woe, yo