- 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. grow in something The family has grown in size recently. She is growing in confidence all the time. + adj. The company is growing bigger all the time. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbfast, quickly, rapidly, … verb + growseem to, begin to, start to, … prepositionat, by, from, … See full entry See related entries: Trends 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 Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbfast, quickly, rapidly, … prepositioninto, to See full entry 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. grow something I didn't know they grew rice in France. I grew all these flowers from one packet of seeds. see also home-grown Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverborganically, commercially, locally, … verb + growbe easy to phrasesgrow something from seed See full entry See related entries: Growing crops of hair/nails
- 4 [intransitive, transitive] to become longer; to allow something to become longer by not cutting it I've decided to let my hair grow. grow something I've decided to grow my hair. I didn't recognize him—he's grown a beard. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbwell, poorly, fast, … verb + growallow something to, let something prepositionfrom, into, to, … phrasesgrow unchecked See full entry 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] grow to do something to gradually begin to do something I'm sure you'll grow to like her in time. He grew to understand her reasons for leaving. develop skills
- 7[intransitive] grow (as something) (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] grow something to increase the size, quality or number of something We are trying to grow the business. Word OriginOld English grōwan (originally referring chiefly to plants), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch groeien, also to grass and green.Extra examples 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.Idioms
verb jump to other results
BrE BrE//ɡrəʊ//; NAmE NAmE//ɡroʊ//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they grow BrE BrE//ɡrəʊ//; NAmE NAmE//ɡroʊ//
he / she / it grows BrE BrE//ɡrəʊz//; NAmE NAmE//ɡroʊz//
past simple grew BrE BrE//ɡruː//; NAmE NAmE//ɡruː//
past participle grown BrE BrE//ɡrəʊn//; NAmE NAmE//ɡroʊn//
-ing form growing BrE BrE//ˈɡrəʊɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈɡroʊɪŋ//
Trends, Growing crops(saying) used to say that when you are away from somebody that you love, you love them even more
(saying) used to tell somebody not to use something or spend money carelessly because you do not have a lot of it
to not delay in getting things done Phrasal Verbsgrow apartgrow away fromgrow backgrow intogrow ongrow outgrow out ofgrow up
Check pronunciation: grow
