grow up

verb

grew up; grown up; growing up; grows up
Synonyms of grow upnext

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.

Examples of grow up in a Sentence

everyone has to grow up at some point in their lives
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hockey is the sport Hill grew up in, something many Minnesotans can relate. Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026 Mel said that growing up, her brother was overweight and became a target of bullies. Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026 Craft grew up in San Juan, Trinidad. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 5 Jan. 2026 Grede grew up in east London and Essex, and was one of four daughters raised by a single mother who worked full-time at Morgan Stanley. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grow up

Word History

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of grow up was in 1535

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grow up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grow%20up. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

grow up

verb
: to grow toward or reach full mental and physical growth

More from Merriam-Webster on grow up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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