grow

verb

ˈgrō 

grew ˈgrü  ; grown ˈgrōn  ; growing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to spring up and develop to maturity

b

: to be able to grow in some place or situation

trees that grow in the tropics

c

: to assume some relation through or as if through a process of natural growth

ferns growing from the rocks

2

a

: to increase in size by assimilation of material into the living organism or by accretion of material in a non-biological process (such as crystallization)

The tree grew to an immense size.

b

: increase, expand

grows in wisdom

3

: to develop from a parent source

the book grew out of a series of lectures

4

a

: to pass into a condition : become

grew pale

b

: to have an increasing influence

habit grows on a person

c

: to become increasingly acceptable or attractive

didn't like it at first, but it grew on him

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to grow

grow wheat

b

: to let grow on the body

grew a beard

2

: to promote the development of

start a business and grow it successfully

—J. L. Deckter

grower

ˈgrō(-ə)r 

noun

growingly

ˈgrō-iŋ-lē 

adverb

Did you know?

Is grow a transitive verb?

Some people feel queasy when encountering grow used transitively (as in “grow the economy”). While it may grate on the ears of many, grow has existed as a transitive verb for hundreds of years, initially in relation to such things as crops, then to facial hair and the like, and finally to a small variety of other things (such as a business or the economy). The transitive form of grow sounds peculiar to many people, and you may certainly avoid using it, but it is wrong to state, as some do, that it is always improper or that it does not exist.

Synonyms

• crop
• cultivate
• culture
• dress
• promote
• raise
• rear
• tend

Examples of grow in a Sentence

The city is growing rapidly.

The list of chores to do this weekend keeps growing.

She grew intellectually and emotionally in her first year at college.

It's wonderful to see how she has grown as a person since going to college.

It can be hard to watch our children change as they grow.

He's still just a growing boy.

Recent Examples on the Web

This is the one with the moderately glossy leaves the size of the palms of your hands on plants 18 or 20 feet tall, as opposed to the one with the very waxy, much smaller leaves on plants that grow to 8 or 10 feet tall. —Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024

That didn’t seem strange to the bettor, who had grown accustomed to dealing with operations whose bosses preferred to remain anonymous. —David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024

Equally concerning was the rift that was growing in the kitchen floor. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024

In contrast, raising the retirement age would create savings that grow over time. —Karl W. Smith, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024

With inventory on dealer lots growing toward pre-pandemic levels, auto companies were forced to reduce prices. —Tom Krisher, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024

And now that the Wolfpack has reached the Final Four, the spotlight has grown larger than ever. —Becky Sullivan, NPR, 5 Apr. 2024

The average work week ticked higher, to 34.4 hours, and the labor force participation rate grew to 62.7%, up from 62.5%. —Alicia Wallace, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024

Such considerations have taken on growing importance in investment negotiation and decision processes, said Jean-François Vandenberghe, a real estate specialist at Baker McKenzie. —Frances Schwartzkopff, Fortune Europe, 24 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English grōwan; akin to Old High German gruowan to grow

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing grow

• grow a thicker skin
• grow like a weed
• grow into
• grow on trees
• grow out of
• grow up
• grow on
• grow wild
• grow (plants) from seed
• grow out
• grow apart
• let the grass grow under one's feet
• grow from

Kids Definition

grow

verb

ˈgrō 

grew ˈgrü  ; grown ˈgrōn  ; growing

1

a

: to spring up and develop to maturity

b

: to be able to grow in some place or situation

rice grows in water

c

: to take on some relation through or as if through growth

a tree with limbs grown together

2

: increase entry 1 sense 1, expand

the city is growing rapidly

grows in wisdom

3

: originate sense 2

the project grew out of a mere suggestion

4

a

: to pass into a condition : become

grew pale

b

: to have an increasing influence

habits grow on you

5

: to cause to grow : cultivate, raise

grow wheat

grower

ˈgrō(-ə)r 

noun

Medical Definition

grow

verb

ˈgrō 

grew ˈgrü  ; grown ˈgrōn  ; growing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to spring up and develop to maturity

b

: to be able to grow in some place or situation

c

: to assume some relation through or as if through a process of natural growth

the cut edges of the wound grew together

2

: to increase in size by addition of material by assimilation into the living organism or by accretion in a non-biological process (as crystallization)

transitive verb

: to cause to grow

grew bacteria in culture