grow

verb

SayGROH/ɡɹoʊ/UK/ɡɹəʊ/

Formsgrows, growing, grew, grown

6 meanings of grow

Practice

1
get biggerverbintransitive
To get bigger or increase in amount over time.
Like a balloon getting bigger as you blow more air into it.
Crowds grow larger every year at the fair.
Her savings grew slowly over many years.
UsageSay grew and has grown (not ~~incorrect: growed~~): profits grew last year.
Similarincrease, expand, rise, swell, multiply
Oppositeshrink, decrease, decline, dwindle
Note
2
verbintransitive
To get older and become more developed as a person, animal, or thing.
Living on your own for a year can help you grow as a person.
He has grown into a thoughtful young man.
UsageSay someone grows into a kind of person, or grows as a person. For children, say grow up.
Similardevelop, mature
3
raise plantsverbtransitive
To help a plant or thing get bigger, often by planting and caring for it.
Like feeding and caring for a young animal so it gets strong and big.
My grandfather grows tomatoes in his backyard.
We can grow herbs on a sunny windowsill.
UsageYou grow plants or grow a beard: the thing that gets bigger comes after grow.
Similarcultivate, raise, produce
Note
4
sproutverbintransitive
If plants or hair grow, they come out and get bigger, often in a particular place.
Like tiny green shoots pushing up through the soil in spring.
Mushrooms grow in the forest after heavy rain.
A small beard had grown on his chin.
5
becomeverbintransitive
To slowly start to feel or be a certain way over time.
Like the sky slowly turning dark as evening comes.
The room grew cold after the fire went out.
People grow tired when they work too long.
UsageUse grow + a describing word: grew cold, grow tired. It means slowly become.
Similarbecome, get, turn, go (entry), wax
Note

Less common meaning

6
verbobsoleteintransitive
To become stuck or joined firmly to something.
Our knees shall kneel till to the ground they grow.
1595, William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”Here, grow means to become stuck or joined firmly to something.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of grow apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English grōwan, meaning "to grow." It goes back to older Germanic and Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "to grow" or "become green."

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Grow descends from Old English grōwan through Middle English. en.wiktionary.org
Old English grōwan meant to grow. en.wiktionary.org
The word has older Germanic ancestry. en.wiktionary.org
Its Germanic ancestor derives from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning to grow or become green. en.wiktionary.org