grow up

Formsgrows up, growing up, grew up, grown up

1. 1
   become an adultphrasal verbintransitive

   To get older and become an adult.

   My little brother wants to be a firefighter when he grows up.

   She grew up on a farm with three sisters.

   Similarmature

   Note
2. 2
   become sensiblephrasal verbidiomaticintransitive

   To stop acting like a little kid, often said as an order.

   Tom needs to grow up and stop teasing his sister.

   My cousin finally grew up and stopped playing tricks on everyone.

   Similarmature

3. 3
   said to criticizeinterjectionimperative

   Said to tell someone to stop acting like a little child.

   Grow up! You're too old to cry about losing a game.

   Oh, grow up, it's just a little rain.

   Note
4. 4
   developphrasal verbintransitive

   To start and then get bigger and stronger over time.

   A small market grew up near the river.

   Many towns grow up around busy ports.

   Similardevelop, emerge, arise

Showing meanings only. Show all 4