grow
grow[growgrowsgrewgrowinggrown] [ɡrəʊ] [ɡroʊ]verb(grew [ɡruː]; [ɡruː]grown [ɡrəʊn]; [ɡroʊn])
INCREASE
1. intransitive to increase in size, number, strength or quality
• The company profits grew by 5% last year.
• Fears are growing for the safety of a teenager who disappeared a week ago.
• There is growing opposition to the latest proposals.
• Shortage of water is a growing problem.
• The performance improved as their confidence grew.
• ~ in sth The family has grown in size recently.
• She is growing in confidence all the time.
• + adj. The company is growing bigger all the time.
OF PERSON/ANIMAL
2. intransitive to become bigger or taller and develop into an adult
• You've grown since the last time I saw you!
• Nick's grown almost an inch in the last month.
• The puppies grow quickly during the first six months.
• A growing child needs plenty of sleep.
• + adj. to grow bigger/taller
OF PLANT
3. intransitive, transitive to exist and develop in a particular place; to make plants grow
• The region is too dry for plants to grow.
• These roses grow to a height of 6 feet.
• Tomatoes grow best in direct sunlight.
• ~ sth I didn't know they grew rice in France.
• I grew all these flowers from one packet of seeds.
see also home-grown
OF HAIR/NAILS
4. intransitive, transitive to become longer; to allow sth to become longer by not cutting it
• I've decided to let my hair grow.
• ~ sth I've decided to grow my hair.
• I didn't recognize him— he's grown a beard.
BECOME/BEGIN
5. linking verb + adj. to begin to have a particular quality or feeling over a period of time
• to grow old/bored/calm
• As time went on he grew more and more impatient.
• The skies grew dark and it began to rain.
6. intransitive ~ to do sth to gradually begin to do sth
• I'm sure you'll grow to like her in time.
• He grew to understand her reasons for leaving.
DEVELOP SKILLS
7. intransitive ~ (as sth) (of a person) to develop and improve particular qualities or skills
• She continues to grow as an artist.
• A secure background will help a child to grow emotionally.
BUSINESS
8. transitive ~ sth to increase the size, quality or number of sth
• We are trying to grow the business.
more at absence makes the heart grow fonder at absence, not let the grass grow under your feet at grass n.
see great/tall oaks from little acorns grow at oak
Idiom: it doesn't grow on trees
Derived: grow apart ▪ grow away from somebody ▪ grow back ▪ grow into something ▪ grow on somebody ▪ grow out ▪ grow out of something ▪ grow something out ▪ grow up
Word Origin:
Old English grōwan (originally referring chiefly to plants), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch groeien, also to grass and green.
Thesaurus:
grow verb
1. I
• Company profits grew by 5% last year.
rise • • increase • • climb • • expand • • escalate • |especially spoken go up •
Opp: shrink
grow/rise/increase/go up in price, number, etc.
grow/rise/increase/climb/expand/go up by 10%, 2 000, etc.
grow/rise/increase/climb/expand/escalate/go up from 20 to 50
grow/rise/increase/climb/expand/go up slightly/steadily/slowly/rapidly/dramatically
2. T
• I didn't know they grew rice in Spain.
farm • • plant • |formal cultivate •
grow/plant/cultivate crops
be organically/intensively grown/farmed/cultivated
3. linking verb
• He grew more impatient as time went on.
become • • get • • come • • turn •
grow/become/get/turn cold/warm/chilly
grow/become/get fat/old/angry/hungry/tired
grow/become/get used/accustomed to sth
grow/get/come to know/like sb/sth
Example Bank:
• I'm sure you'll grow to like her in time.
• She grew braver with time.
• A rose had been allowed to grow unchecked up one of the walls.
• A rose in full bloom had been allowed to grow unchecked up one of the walls.
• As the island subsided the reef grew upwards and outwards.
• Her media empire grew from quite small beginnings.
• I want to let my hair grow.
• Profits are expected to grow by 10% next year.
• She continued to grow in confidence
• She decided to let her hair grow.
• Small acorns grow into great oak trees.
• The Chinese economy has grown at a record pace.
• The business has grown exponentially over the past ten years.
• The small puppy quickly grew into a very large dog.
• The town grew into a city.
• The tree grew from a small acorn.
• These plants can grow to a height of six feet.
• Well before a billionth of a second had elapsed the universe started to grow exponentially.
• a plant which is easy to grow
• an attractive plant which is very hardy and easy to grow
• organically grown produce
• the nettles that grew thickly around the house
• I didn't know they grew rice in Spain.
• Their performance improved as their confidence grew.