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

Francis had decided on the move because the material was outgrowing its current storage spaces, which include a vast underground bunker. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

However, the brand keeps telling an older story that’s rooted in an earlier chapter the company has already outgrown. — Priya Gill, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026

The snake outgrows it, pressing itself against the earth, against rock, against whatever will give it enough resistance to begin the challenging work of leaving one form behind. — Emma Watson, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Soon after Hector introduced his spaghetti cooker, the business outgrew the Ohio plant and relocated to Pennsylvania. — Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 4, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 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