grow up
verb
grew up; grown up; growing up; grows up
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
Campbell grew up around baseball.
—
Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
The Mission-style burrito, with its monstrous circumference and segregated ingredients, strikes me as a variation best loved by the people who grew up loving it.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 3 May 2026
Nantucket's hotel scene has grown up quite a bit over the past few years, with exciting new boutique offerings (Faraway, Life House) making waves and drawing younger, more trend-setting travelers to the brahmin island than ever before.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 May 2026
Clark grew up in Fayetteville and her mother attended the high school, making the cupola even more meaningful.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for grow up
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Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
The Mission-style burrito, with its monstrous circumference and segregated ingredients, strikes me as a variation best loved by the people who grew up loving it.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 3 May 2026
Nantucket's hotel scene has grown up quite a bit over the past few years, with exciting new boutique offerings (Faraway, Life House) making waves and drawing younger, more trend-setting travelers to the brahmin island than ever before.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 May 2026
Clark grew up in Fayetteville and her mother attended the high school, making the cupola even more meaningful.
—Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for grow up
Cite this Entry
“Grow up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grow%20up. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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