: to assume some relation through or as if through a process of natural growth
ferns growing from the rocks
2
a
: to increase in size by assimilation of material into the living organism or by accretion of material in a non-biological process (such as crystallization)
Some people feel queasy when encountering grow used transitively (as in “grow the economy”). While it may grate on the ears of many, grow has existed as a transitive verb for hundreds of years, initially in relation to such things as crops, then to facial hair and the like, and finally to a small variety of other things (such as a business or the economy). The transitive form of grow sounds peculiar to many people, and you may certainly avoid using it, but it is wrong to state, as some do, that it is always improper or that it does not exist.
The city is growing rapidly. The list of chores to do this weekend keeps growing. She grew intellectually and emotionally in her first year at college. It's wonderful to see how she has grown as a person since going to college. It can be hard to watch our children change as they grow. He's still just a growing boy. See More
Recent Examples on the WebAs a whole, The Best Man franchise has delivered a story about Black characters that people got to grow with and follow over the decades. Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2022 Spiky leaves that grow upwards and have a red outline make the name of this plant absolutely perfect. Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, 8 Sep. 2022 The half ended before McDonogh could get a last chance to grow its lead and entered halftime having failed to score since its opening possession. Taylor Lyons, Baltimore Sun, 8 Sep. 2022 As the days grow shorter and the weather grows colder, your favorite TV networks and streaming services are ramping up their new programming. Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 Somebody has to grow and harvest the food in the fields. Matt Pearce, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2022 Give the people who deserve it the chance to change, grow, and adapt by communicating your needs clearly with them. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Sep. 2022 And aged batteries are even more prone to accidents and fires, as dendrites grow and threaten to bridge the anode and cathode in a battery. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 1 Sep. 2022 Our resistance in the past year has shown its potential to grow and successfully fight the Taliban. Peter Bergen, CNN, 30 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English grōwan; akin to Old High German gruowan to grow