outgrow
/aut'grou/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- grow faster than
- grow too large or too mature for
- I have outgrown these clothes
- She outgrew her childish habits