outgrow

verb

out·​grow ˌau̇t-ˈgrō 

outgrew ˌau̇t-ˈgrü  ; outgrown ˌau̇t-ˈgrōn  ; outgrowing

transitive verb

1

: to grow or increase faster than

… mankind is outgrowing food supplies.

—R. C. Murphy

2

: to grow too large or too mature for

outgrew his best suit

the need to outgrow the habit of war

—Norman Cousins

Examples of outgrow in a Sentence

Kids outgrow their clothes so quickly.

The plant has outgrown my garden.

Our business is outgrowing its small office building.

She's outgrown most of her toys.

I realized that I had outgrown my old high school friends.

Recent Examples on the Web

One of those needs is a new public safety complex to replace an aging police headquarters the city has long outgrown. —Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026

Oren and Tal had even outgrown their mentor, Lorber. —James D. Walsh, Curbed, 10 Mar. 2026

Oak Park’s Village Hall is 50 years old and the police department has long outgrown its space in the building’s basement, officials said. —Alice Fabbre, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026

The new office itself opened in August 2024, replacing an old building on Morris Hill Road that the county had drastically outgrown years ago. —Shannon Tyler march 6, Idaho Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for outgrow

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

outgrow

verb

out·​grow (ˈ)au̇t-ˈgrō 

outgrew -ˈgrü  ; outgrown -ˈgrōn  ; outgrowing

1

: to grow faster than

2

: to grow too large or too mature for

outgrew their clothes

outgrow playing with dolls