grew

The little plant grew tall in the sunny window.

Definition

1. Verb (past tense of "grow"):
   • To increase in size or develop naturally: "grew" indicates that something became larger, taller, or more mature over time, especially through natural processes.
   • To become over time: "grew" can describe a gradual change in state, condition, or quality.
   • To cultivate or cause to develop: In transitive use, "grew" means that someone intentionally caused plants or crops to develop.

Usage Examples

• Intransitive (increase in size):

  • The tree grew taller every year. (The tree increased in height naturally.)
  • She grew three inches last summer. (Her height increased significantly.)

• Intransitive (gradual change):

  • He grew tired of waiting. (He gradually became tired.)
  • The noise grew louder as we approached. (The noise increased in volume over time.)

• Transitive (cultivate):

  • They grew vegetables in their backyard. (They intentionally planted and raised vegetables.)
  • The farmer grew wheat on his land. (The farmer cultivated wheat as a crop.)

Advanced Usage

• "to grow apart": to gradually become less close or intimate.

  • After college, they grew apart and rarely spoke. (Their relationship weakened over time.)

• "to grow on someone": to gradually become more appealing or liked.

  • The song grew on me after listening to it several times. (I began to like it more.)

• "to grow into": to become large enough to fit or suit something.

  • The child grew into his older brother's shoes. (He became big enough to wear them.)

Variants and Related Words

• Growth (noun): the process of increasing in size or developing.

  • The plant showed rapid growth in the spring. (It grew quickly.)

• Grown (past participle; adjective): fully developed or adult.

  • She is a grown woman now. (She is mature and adult.)

• Overgrown (adjective): covered with plants that have grown too large.

  • The old garden was overgrown with weeds. (Weeds had grown excessively.)

Synonyms

• Developed: underwent natural progression or maturation.

  • The city developed into a major hub. (It grew over time.)

• Increased: became larger in amount or degree.

  • The population increased steadily. (It grew.)

• Became: began to be or turned into.

  • He became angry. (He grew angry.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Grow up: to become an adult; to mature.

  • She grew up in a small town. (She spent her childhood and became adult there.)

• Grow out of: to become too old or mature for something; to originate from.

  • He grew out of his childish habits. (He stopped them as he matured.)
  • The problem grew out of a misunderstanding. (The problem originated from a misunderstanding.)

Related Idioms

• Grow a pair (informal): to become braver or more assertive.

  • He needs to grow a pair and speak up. (He should become more courageous.)

• Grow on trees: to be very easy to obtain (often used in negative form).

  • Money doesn't grow on trees. (Money is not easily available.)