Definition

1. Transitive Verb:
   • To grow too large for something: To become too big or too mature to fit into or use something, typically clothing or a space, due to physical growth or development.
   • To grow faster than something or someone: To surpass in growth rate or size.
   • To lose or discard with maturity: To cease to have or engage in a particular habit, interest, or characteristic as one becomes older or more mature.

Examples of Usage

• To grow too large for:
  • My son has already outgrown his winter coat.
  • The plant quickly outgrew its small pot.
• To grow faster than:
  • The new hybrid corn outgrows the traditional variety.
  • She outgrew her older brother in height by age twelve.
• To lose with maturity:
  • He eventually outgrew his fear of the dark.
  • Many teenagers outgrow their taste for sugary cereals.

Advanced Usage

• "to outgrow one's usefulness": To become too mature, skilled, or advanced for a particular role, job, or situation, making it no longer suitable or challenging.
  • The brilliant intern quickly outgrew her entry-level position.

Variants and Related Words

• Outgrew: Simple past tense of 'outgrow'.
  • She outgrew her shoes last summer.
• Outgrown: Past participle of 'outgrow'.
  • These are outgrown toys from my childhood.
• Outgrowth (noun): A natural development, product, or consequence; also, something that grows out of something else.
  • The new policy was an outgrowth of the committee's discussions.

Synonyms

• Surpass (in growth): To exceed in size, degree, or rate.
• Grow out of: To become too mature or too large for something (often used interchangeably with the first and third meanings of 'outgrow').
• Shed (a habit): To cast off or get rid of.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Grow out of: This phrasal verb is very close in meaning to 'outgrow', especially concerning clothes and habits.
  • Children grow out of their clothes so quickly.
  • Hopefully, he'll grow out of this rebellious phase.

Related Idioms

• Outgrow one's britches (or breeches): To behave in a way that is arrogantly beyond one's age, station, or ability; to be presumptuous.
  • Ever since he got that promotion, he's been outgrowing his britches.

Verb

1. grow faster than
2. grow too large or too mature for
   • I have outgrown these clothes
   • She outgrew her childish habits