grow
grow
/ɡrəʊ/
increase
1 intransitive to increase in size, number, strength or quality The sector is growing at a phenomenal rate.
The performance improved as their confidence grew.
Opposition to the latest proposals is growing steadily.
The market is growing rapidly.
Sales are growing fast.
The business has grown exponentially over the past ten years.
Fears are growing for the safety of a teenager who disappeared a week ago.
grow by something The economy is growing by roughly 2 per cent a year.
The company profits grew by 5 per cent last year.
grow in something The family has grown in size recently.
This approach is growing in popularity.
She is growing in confidence all the time.
grow from something Her media empire grew from quite small beginnings.
grow to something That number will grow to two billion users in 2025.
grow from something to something The city's population has grown from about 50 000 to over a million in 20 years.
+ adj. to grow larger/stronger
The company is growing bigger all the time.
Collocations
adverb
verb + grow
preposition
at
by
from
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!
The puppies grow quickly during the first six months.
+ noun Nick's grown almost an inch in the last month.
+ adj. to grow bigger/taller/older
of plant
The region is too dry for plants to grow.
Tomatoes grow best in direct sunlight.
grow to something These roses grow to a height of 6 feet.
grow from something This is a tree that grows well from cuttings.
grow something The land is used to grow crops.
We need to grow our food more efficiently.
I didn't know they grew rice in France.
The plants were grown in controlled conditions.
grow something from something I grew all these flowers from one packet of seeds.
Collocations
adverb
verb + grow
be easy to
phrases
grow something from seed
of hair/nails
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.
Collocations
adverb
verb + grow
allow something to
let something
preposition
from
into
to
phrases
grow unchecked
become/begin
5 linking verb + adj. to begin to have a particular quality or feeling over a period of time
He had grown old and fat.
They were growing tired of her unreasonable behaviour.
My eyes soon grew accustomed to the darkness.
Mark and Jenny were growing closer every day.
As time went on he grew more and more impatient.
The skies grew dark and it began to rain.
She grew braver with time.
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.
Idioms
Phrasal Verbs
Word Origin
Old English grōwan (originally referring chiefly to plants), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch groeien, also to grass and green.