as in growing
to become mature
everyone has to grow up at some point in their lives
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Recent Examples of growing up
To say growing up under the LAX flight path is a complicated experience, there’s so much truth in that.
—
Jason Parham, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
When Judd Apatow was growing up on Long Island, there was no debate about who ruled the comedy world.
—Stephen Silver, Sun Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2026
During an interview with Jake Shane on Therapuss in November 2025, Hilary spoke about her musical comeback, family and growing up.
—Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
Wilcox, who runs a small health and beauty business, moved to the United States and became a citizen after growing up in communist Czechoslovakia, according to her campaign biography.
—Eleanor Dearman
updated January 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2026
Tommy’s son Cooper also has some growing up to do.
—Michael M. Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Liim stopped by the Billboard office in New York City with his management to talk about his influences, the crafting of his debut album, and growing up in a city full of opportunity for a kid like him.
—Angel Diaz, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2025
Grande started as a child star on Nickelodeon shows and has had to face the scrutiny and pressure of growing up under the public eye.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
When Macy was growing up, her mother worked in a factory and her dad was known as the town drunk.
—Alex Kotlowitz, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2025
Jason Parham, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
When Judd Apatow was growing up on Long Island, there was no debate about who ruled the comedy world.
—Stephen Silver, Sun Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2026
During an interview with Jake Shane on Therapuss in November 2025, Hilary spoke about her musical comeback, family and growing up.
—Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
Wilcox, who runs a small health and beauty business, moved to the United States and became a citizen after growing up in communist Czechoslovakia, according to her campaign biography.
—Eleanor Dearman
updated January 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2026
Tommy’s son Cooper also has some growing up to do.
—Michael M. Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Liim stopped by the Billboard office in New York City with his management to talk about his influences, the crafting of his debut album, and growing up in a city full of opportunity for a kid like him.
—Angel Diaz, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2025
Grande started as a child star on Nickelodeon shows and has had to face the scrutiny and pressure of growing up under the public eye.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
When Macy was growing up, her mother worked in a factory and her dad was known as the town drunk.
—Alex Kotlowitz, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for growing up
Verb
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China’s growing crackdown on Hong Kong further strained relations, and spurred then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson to offer citizenship for up to 3 million residents of Hong Kong, a former colony that Britain handed back to China in 1997.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
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But in a zero-sum world, where more money spent on incarceration means less money available for California’s growing network of trauma recovery centers, that’s a bad bargain.—
Kathy Brown-Lowe,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Jake Burton and his company have played a major role in progressing the sport and bringing it from the fringe to the mainstream.—
Nathan Allen,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2026
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Aston Villa and Lille secured automatic qualification with wins against Celtic and Feyenoord, progressing to the last 16 at the expense of Atalanta, who drew 2-2 in Barcelona, and Milan, who lost 2-1 away at Dinamo Zagreb (who were the unlucky team eliminated with 11 points).—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Around half a million New Yorkers live in aging buildings run by the city’s housing authority, known as NYCHA, which is the largest in the nation.—
Dave Collins,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2026
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The shift that happens when aging Vinho Verde isn’t subtle.—
Devin Parr,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Growing up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/growing%20up. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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