growing pains

plural noun

1

: pains in the legs of growing children having no demonstrable relation to growth

2

: the stresses and strains attending a new project or development

Examples of growing pains in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite some growing pains, Okot’s minutes have continued to increase, reaching a career-high 22 minutes in the July 11 game against Portland. — Micahya Costen, AJC.com, 28 July 2026

There will be growing pains, but the offense is facing one of the NFL’s elite defenses every day. — Zach Berman, New York Times, 28 July 2026

The Idaho debut of one of California’s fast-food staples has involved a few growing pains during its first few weeks. — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 22 July 2026

That would ruin a good thing, apparently, and Foerster credited Puni for not only playing through a knee injury last fall but overcoming early-career growing pains. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 20 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for growing pains

• aeroplanes
• appertains
• ascertains
• entertains
• hurricanes
• hyperplanes
• windowpanes
• abstains
• alkanes
• attains
• biplanes
• bloodstains

Kids Definition

growing pains

plural noun

1

: pains in the legs of growing children having no proven relation to growth

2

: difficulties that accompany something new

a business going through growing pains

Medical Definition

growing pains

noun plural

grow·​ing pains ˈgrō-iŋ-ˌpānz 

: pains occurring in the legs of growing children having no demonstrable relation to growth