Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🧠 To mature 📈 To get bigger 🔄 To become 🌱 To develop 🥕 To plant 🧬 To join naturally
to grow

to grow

958 2.2
Start to exist or slowly develop, as with an idea
  • verb
  • /ɡroʊ/
translation icon : surgir
  • Let your understanding and awareness grow and make you free.
  • a growing body
  • growing literature
  • a growing awareness

So my surroundings changed, my ideas grew, my wants grew.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • In search of meaning, we played with the growing list of critical skills.

    Academic text (2013)

  • So my surroundings changed, my ideas grew, my wants grew.

    The Pivot Podcast

  • It's amazing how much faith you can grow watching your kids.

    Shawn Ryan Show

  • But the dream is growing.

    Hitler's Children (1943)

  • And a good relationship grows from moments like that.

  • The causes of illegal fishing are driven by growing world demand for fish.

    Academic text (2017)

  • Within this, anxiety, stress, and depression are growing problems, according to figures obtained by the BBC.

    Academic text (2015)

  • The nonmedical use of prescription drugs is a growing problem in the United States and worldwide.

    Academic text (2008)

  • The research examining motivation for physical activity is growing but still in its infancy.

    Academic text (2013)

  • The movement began to grow after people shared their stories on social media.

Synonyms

to develop
vsto grow
905 1.6

To grow or change slowly to become more mature

is narrower, mainly about ideas or feelings beginning to exist
to emerge
vsto grow
604 4.0

To become known or start to exist, for example as an idea

focuses on slow originating and gradual development rather than appearance
to evolve
vsto grow
591 4.0

To change or develop slowly over time, often becoming more advanced

applies specifically to initial arising and early development rather than long change
to arise
vsto grow
333 3.3

Start to exist or happen

is more about gradual development of ideas, feelings, or movements
to build up
vsto grow
207 3.0

Increase slowly over time

is about beginnings and origination rather than gradual accumulation
to originate
vsto grow
153 3.8

To start or create something

emphasizes slow arising and development rather than simple origin
to sprout
vsto grow
68 2.0

To begin to grow new shoots or leaves

means idea or feeling coming into being gradually rather than plant growth
to rise
vsto grow
65 2.6

To begin to exist or start to develop

stresses gradual origination and unfolding over time
to blossom
vsto grow
44 3.4

To grow and become more successful or confident

is about initial coming into being rather than later promising success
to burgeon
vsto grow
28 7.6

To grow or increase very quickly

differs by implying fast expansion rather than slow origination
to proliferate
vsto grow
23 9.5

Increase quickly in number or make something increase quickly

is about slow arising of an idea or feeling, not rapid multiplication
to take root
vsto grow
14 3.6

To begin to exist and become accepted by people

is similar but highlights initial origin rather than firm establishment
to bud
vsto grow
11 1.0

To start to grow as a new shoot on a plant

is focused on ideas or feelings originating gradually rather than plant shoots
to germinate
vsto grow
10 4.8

To begin to grow from a seed or spore

describes mental or social origin and slow development, not seed action
to blossom into
vsto grow
10 3.8

Gradually grow into a better or more mature form

covers early arising broadly, not only positive improvement
to begin to blossom
vsto grow
1 3.4

To grow and become more successful or confident

focuses on early existence of ideas or feelings rather than personal growth
to begin to sprout
vsto grow
1 3.2

To start growing, usually of plants or seeds

is about gradual origination of nonphysical things rather than plants
to blossom forth
vsto grow
4.6

To grow and develop in a clear, positive way

is broader, covering any gradual origin not only positive flourishing
to burgeon forth
vsto grow
7.8

To begin to grow quickly, often as new shoots or leaves

refers generally to ideas slowly originating, not rapid physical growth
sprouted
vsto grow
2.1

A seed or plant that has just begun to grow above the ground

refers to early physical emergence, while key covers gradual origination
to begin to mushroom
vsto grow
4.7

Start to grow or spread very quickly across an area

contrasts with slow, gradual originating and development
to uprise
vsto grow
7.7

Begin to appear, for example a feeling or idea

is about slow, gradual emergence rather than possibly sudden formation

Antonyms

to fade
531 1.2

To slowly become less visible, bright, or loud

to dissipate
48 6.8

To make something spread out and disappear, for example fog or tension

Idioms

to grow a pair
  • Offensive
8 9.9

To become braver and more confident in difficult situations

to grow some balls
  • Offensive
4 9.9

To become braver and act when you are afraid

to let the grass grow under someone's feet
  • Informal
1 8.6

Wait too long to act and miss a chance

to grow a set
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To become more brave and confident when facing problems

to hear the grass grow
  • Informal
1 9.9

A very quiet place where even the smallest sounds seem noticeable

do not grow on trees
  • Informal
8.1

Not easy to find or get

absence makes the heart grow fonder
  • Informal
6.8

Being apart from someone makes you care for them more

to grow some skin
  • Informal
9.4

To become less upset by criticism or problems

Phrasal Verbs

to grow up
∞ 1.3

To change from a child into an adult

to grow out of
31 3.2

Stop liking, doing, or feeling something as you get older

to grow over
4 3.5

To spread over something and cover it, as moss or vines do

to grow together
4 3.9

To join so closely that two things become one, for example plants or bones

to make grow
2 2.9

To help something become bigger or better over time

to grow on someone
5.3

To slowly become more liked by someone

to grow up and settle down
3.4

Become an adult and start a steady life with a job or family

How Established

to develop
905 1.6
to grow
958 2.2
to emerge
604 4.0
to arise
333 3.3
to originate
153 3.8

Surface Forms

grow infinitive
growing present participle
grows third person singular
grew past
grown past participle

Etymology

Grow comes from an old Germanic word grōwan meaning 'to become green', and people thought of ideas or feelings spreading like plants. So, an idea or feeling 'grows' when it begins small and slowly develops into something larger.