GREW UP Synonyms: 47 Similar and Opposite Words

grew up

verb

past tense of grow up

as in grew

to become mature everyone has to grow up at some point in their lives

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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.

Recent Examples of grew up Xavi Simons was born in Amsterdam but grew up in the quiet village of Rojales in Alicante. — Jay Harris, New York Times, 22 July 2026 Ali was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, and grew up in East London. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 21 July 2026 But younger generations grew up inside interactive ecosystems. — Kelly Samuel, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Shur grew up in Houston and discovered photography in high school. — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 21 July 2026 Arafat, a Palestinian who grew up in the West Bank, came to Romania as a medical student in the 1980s and never left. — Andrei Popoviciu, The Dial, 21 July 2026 The plots, written with Gen Alpha at top of mind, are energetic, a little chaotic, brimming with imagination, and clearly inspired by the shows and characters Chow and his team grew up watching on networks like Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel. — Rachel Brodsky, Time, 14 July 2026 Shaw, who grew up in Payette, was indicted late last month in Payette County on two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her fraternal twins, Tyson and Dallas. — Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 14 July 2026 The 6-foot-2 point guard who grew up in Philadelphia won an Olympic gold medal in 1964 and was a two-time All-American under the direction of Bruins coach John Wooden. — Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grew up

Verb

As California’s population grew, the trees were logged to provide wood for everything from fence posts to railroad ties to houses.

— Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
As his relationships deepened and demand for the wines grew, what had started as a hobby gradually became a full-time pursuit.

— Yuri Shima, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of grew

Verb

As their relationship has progressed, the couple continue to bring their romance further into the public eye.

— Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
Emma, 50, became Bruce’s caregiver as his condition progressed—FTD can cause a loss of motor skills, speech and language issues, and personality changes.

— Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 25 July 2026

Definition of progressed

Verb

Statistics from the London Marathon show that more than a third of runners who completed the 26-mile race this year were aged between 18 and 29.

— Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
The whiskey was distilled in Indiana, aged for two decades in Kentucky and bottled at a hefty cask strength of 137 proof.

— Emily Price, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

Definition of aged

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grew (in)

grew up

griddle cake

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“Grew up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grew%20up. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of grew up

verb

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