grow up

verb

grew up; grown up; growing up; grows up

intransitive verb

1

a

: to grow toward or arrive at full stature or physical or mental maturity : to progress from childhood toward adulthood

growing up intellectually

grew up in the city

also : to become an adult

She wants to be a doctor when she grows up.

b

: to stop thinking or behaving in a childish way

He should grow up and accept his responsibilities.

2

: to begin to exist and develop as time passes

A number of cities grew up along the river.

Synonyms

• grow
• progress
• develop

Examples of grow up in a Sentence

everyone has to grow up at some point in their lives

Recent Examples on the Web

Former friends with unintended benefits Former state Sen. Curtis Hertel grew up in Detroit's East English Village neighborhood, just a couple blocks from where Duggan's family lived in Detroit's Morningside neighborhood. —M.l. Elrick, Freep.com, 23 July 2025

Allgood came to music early, growing up in suburban Westmont, supported and encouraged by her parents and allowed to sing with local bands. —Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 23 July 2025

Andersen, who recently released a new album The Hammer & The Rose, grew up in Perth-Andover, a tiny town that has since been incorporated into Southern Victoria in New Brunswick, Canada. —Gary Stoller, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025

After emigrating to the United States at age 12 from Haiti, Fortune grew up in the Nassau County town of Westbury on Long Island. —Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 23 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for grow up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

Kids Definition

grow up

verb

: to grow toward or reach full mental and physical growth