From Middle English growen, from Old English grōwan (“to grow, increase, flourish, germinate”), from Proto-West Germanic *grōan, from Proto-Germanic *grōaną (“to grow, grow green”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰreh₁- (“to grow, become green”).
Cognates
Cognate with Dutch groeien (“to grow”), German Low German grojen (“to green; thrive; take hold; flourish”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish gro (“to grow”), Faroese grógva (“to grow”), Icelandic gróa (“to grow”); also Latin grāmen (“grass, turf; herb, plant”), herba (“grass, herbage; weeds; plant”), Ukrainian гря́ний (hrjányj, “green”). Related to growth, grass, green.
From Middle English growen, from Old English grōwan (“to grow, increase, flourish, germinate”), from Proto-West Germanic *grōan, from Proto-Germanic *grōaną (“to grow, grow green”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰreh₁- (“to grow, become green”).
Cognates
Cognate with Dutch groeien (“to grow”), German Low German grojen (“to green; thrive; take hold; flourish”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish gro (“to grow”), Faroese grógva (“to grow”), Icelandic gróa (“to grow”); also Latin grāmen (“grass, turf; herb, plant”), herba (“grass, herbage; weeds; plant”), Ukrainian гря́ний (hrjányj, “green”). Related to growth, grass, green.
Meanings
(ergative) To become larger, to increase in magnitude.
Children grow quickly.
[...] but the dangers to trespassers, especially children, are growing, and a vigorous educational programme is urged. 1960 December, “Talking of trains: B.R. safety in 1959”, in Trains Illustrated, page 708:
(ergative, of plants) To undergo growth; to be present (somewhere).
Apples now grow all over the world.
(intransitive) To appear or sprout.
Leaf buds grew on the trees with the advance of spring.
A long tail began to grow from his backside.
(intransitive) To develop, to mature.
As I grew throughout adolescence, I came to appreciate many things about human nature.
(transitive) To cause or allow something to become bigger, especially to cultivate plants.
The Bush administration – which sought to grow the number of fisheries managed under a program known as “catch shares”... 2011 March 1, Peter Roff, “Another Foolish Move By Congress”, in Fox News:
He grows peppers and squash each summer in his garden.
Have you ever grown your hair before?
And — again to overgeneralize from my experience — users may not want a second Twitter either. I was a heavy Twitter user for over a decade. I loved it until I didn’t. I made connections, grew a following, floated ideas, had fun. But it also became a second, often angry, voice inside my head. Do I want to replace it with another one? 2023 July 10, James Poniewozik, “The Twitter Watch Party Is Over”, in The New York Times:
(copulative) To assume a condition or quality over time.
My cares grew less (and less) until they evanesced completely.
You have grown strong.
In fact she was so bus doing all the things that anyone might, who finds themselves alone in an empty house, that she did not notice at first when it began to turn dusk and the rooms to grow dim. 1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 18:
(intransitive, obsolete) To become attached or fixed; to adhere.
Our knees shall kneel till to the ground they grow. 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]:
ckb ڕواندن ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · lmo cress ((intransitive) to become bigger) · pt crescer ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · es cultivar ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · cmn 生長 /生长 ((intransitive) to become bigger) · lt augti ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ca tornar-se (to assume a condition or quality) · la alesco ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · ja 成長する ((intransitive) to become bigger) · hy աճել ((intransitive) to become bigger) · sw kuza ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · km ដុះ ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · la grandesco ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ota ایریلشمك ((intransitive) to become bigger) · fr accroître ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · it coltivare ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · hu nő ((intransitive) to become bigger) · alt ӧзӧр ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ca créixer ((intransitive) to become bigger) · gd cinn ((intransitive) to become bigger) · gl crecer ((intransitive) to become bigger) · goh gruowan ((intransitive) to become bigger) · as বঢ়া ((intransitive) to become bigger) · gd fàs ((intransitive) to become bigger) · hu növekszik ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · hrx wachse ((intransitive) to become bigger) · bcl talubo ((intransitive) to become bigger) · vec créser ((intransitive) to become bigger) · cmn 長 /长 ((intransitive) to become bigger) · kk өсу ((intransitive) to become bigger) · izh kasvattaa ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · hu -ül (to assume a condition or quality) · enm thryven ((intransitive) to become bigger) · got 𐌰𐌻𐌰𐌽 ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ja 育てる ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · ga fás ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · pl uprawić ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · hu -edik (to assume a condition or quality) · ja 生える ((intransitive) to become bigger) · vi lớn lên ((intransitive) to become bigger) · vi mọc ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · uk рости́ти ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · it svilupparsi ((intransitive) to become bigger) · fi kasvaa ((intransitive) to become bigger) · an creixer ((intransitive) to become bigger) · hi उभरना ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · io developar ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · lv augt ((intransitive) to become bigger) · kum оьсмек ((intransitive) to become bigger) · uk вироста́ти ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · el αυξάνω ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · uli hatiumwlae ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · pl zapuścić ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · arz كبر ((intransitive) to become bigger) · pt cultivar ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · io kreskigar ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · tyv өзер ((intransitive) to become bigger) · pl robić się (to assume a condition or quality) · be расці́ ((intransitive) to become bigger) · cmn 蓄 ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · uk рости́ ((intransitive) to become bigger) · bho बढ़ल ((intransitive) to become bigger) · nl wassen ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ca cultivar ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · km ធំធាត់ ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ist crìssi ((intransitive) to become bigger) · kjh ӧзерге ((intransitive) to become bigger) · de ziehen ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · ur بڑهنا ((intransitive) to become bigger) · chr ᎠᏛᏍᎦ ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ms tumbuh ((intransitive) to become bigger) · es comenzar (to assume a condition or quality) · la cresco ((intransitive) to become bigger) · uk ви́рости ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ga fás ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · kaw tuwuh ((intransitive) to become bigger) · da vokse ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · gl cultivar ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · kjh ӧс- ((intransitive) to become bigger) · kw tevi ((intransitive) to become bigger) · alt ӧс ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ja 育つ ((intransitive) to become bigger) · gd fàs ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · ht grandi ((intransitive) to become bigger) · pl rosnąć ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ta வளர் ((intransitive) to become bigger) · sc crèscere ((intransitive) to become bigger) · cy tyfu ((intransitive) to become bigger) · tr büyümek ((intransitive) to become bigger) · da udvikle sig ((intransitive) to become bigger) · zza resayen ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · fa رستن ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ro crește ((intransitive) to become bigger) · pl zrobić się (to assume a condition or quality) · cdo 發 /发 ((intransitive) to become bigger) · dlm craskro ((intransitive) to become bigger) · cs růst ((intransitive) to become bigger) · no dyrke ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · enm growen ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · eo kultivi ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · fr croître ((intransitive) to become bigger) · mi tupu ((intransitive) to become bigger) · az becərmək ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · mrw to' ((intransitive) to become bigger) · az bitmək ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · uk рости́ ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · mi whakatipu ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · oc créisser ((intransitive) to become bigger) · grc αὐξάνω ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · et saama (to assume a condition or quality) · my ကြီးထွား ((intransitive) to become bigger) · bor ridʒo ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ru расти́ ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · enm waxen ((intransitive) to become bigger) · lad engrandeser ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ang grōwan ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · sa रोधति ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ru выраста́ть ((intransitive) to become bigger) · hu növeszt ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · fur creši ((intransitive) to become bigger) · krc ёсерге ((intransitive) to become bigger) · vi nuôi lớn ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · pl powiększać ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · sc crèssere ((intransitive) to become bigger) · crh ösmek ((intransitive) to become bigger) · gld урэ- ((intransitive) to become bigger) · mi whakatupu ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · de wachsen ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · cho offochi ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · ckb گەورەبوون ((intransitive) to become bigger) · fr pousser ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · km ដាំ ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · az yetişdirmək ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · ru выра́щивать ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · bg раста ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · ka ზრდის ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · da udvikle sig ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · hy աճեցնել ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · vi nuôi ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · msk tobo ((intransitive) to become bigger) · it crescere ((intransitive) to become bigger) · pl uprawiać ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · ace timoh ((intransitive) to become bigger) · hu termel ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · mr वाढणे ((intransitive) to become bigger) · hy դառնալ (to assume a condition or quality) · ru вы́расти ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · zlw-ocs rósti ((intransitive) to become bigger) · nl groeien ((intransitive) to become bigger) · de wachsen ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ar نَمَى ((intransitive) to become bigger) · gd fàs (to assume a condition or quality) · sc crèsciri ((intransitive) to become bigger) · fur cressi ((intransitive) to become bigger) · is gróa ((intransitive) to become bigger) · fa روییدن ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · th โตขึ้น ((intransitive) to become bigger) · sq rritje ((intransitive) to become bigger) · scn crìsciri ((intransitive) to become bigger) · izh kasvaa ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · fo grógva ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ja 増大する ((intransitive) to become bigger) · eo kreski ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · dsb rosć ((intransitive) to become bigger) · it apparire (to assume a condition or quality) · crh büyümek ((intransitive) to become bigger) · nl doen groeien ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · ceb tubo ((intransitive) to become bigger) · hu termeszt ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · vec crésar ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ota آرتمق ((intransitive) to become bigger) · nl kweken ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · izh kasvaa ((intransitive) to become bigger) · bg нараствам ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · th งอก ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · xdq бикӏа́ра ((intransitive) to become bigger) · izh yletä ((intransitive) to become bigger) · la alo ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · et kasvama ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · ang lēodan ((intransitive) to become bigger) · fi kasvattaa ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · crh yetişmek ((intransitive) to become bigger) · akl tubo' ((intransitive) to become bigger) · da vokse ((intransitive) to become bigger) · pl stawać się (to assume a condition or quality) · es acrecer ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · km ធំឡើង ((intransitive) to become bigger) · sv odla ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · mbb tuvu' ((intransitive) to become bigger) · pl stać się (to assume a condition or quality) · tk ösdürmek ((intransitive) to become bigger) · zza ruwayen ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · sv växa ((intransitive) to become bigger) · sa रोधति ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · gl criar ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · sk rásť ((intransitive) to become bigger) · de anbauen ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · nds wassen ((intransitive) to become bigger) · hu nő ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · io augmentar ((intransitive) to become bigger) · cmn 種植 /种植 ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · nl groeien ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · fy waakse ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ruq cresc ((intransitive) to become bigger) · be выро́шчваць ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · la adolesco ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ba үҫеү ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ta வளர்த்து ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · it crescere ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · sc creschi ((intransitive) to become bigger) · pa ਵਧਣਾ ((intransitive) to become bigger) · it ingrossarsi ((intransitive) to become bigger) · bor ritʃo ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ka იზრდება ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · pl powiększyć ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · uk виро́щувати ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · et kasvatama ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · hi उपजना ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · vi lớn ((intransitive) to become bigger) · be расці́ць ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · nap cresce ((intransitive) to become bigger) · nog оьсуьв ((intransitive) to become bigger) · toi kuzya ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · kim өъс- ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ru выраста́ть ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · ar كَبُرَ ((intransitive) to become bigger) · sh rȃsti ((intransitive) to become bigger) · evn балды- ((intransitive) to become bigger) · tl lumaki ((intransitive) to become bigger) · qu wiñai ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ta ஆ (to assume a condition or quality) · ru вы́расти ((intransitive) to become bigger) · goh gruowan ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · io kreskar ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · tg сабзидан ((intransitive) to become bigger) · la mātūrō (to assume a condition or quality) · mr वाढवणे ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · sc crèschere ((intransitive) to become bigger) · clt pathyi ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · ia crescer ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ang weaxan ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · izh noissa ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · pl zostawać (to assume a condition or quality) · es crecer ((intransitive) to become bigger) · gl medrar ((intransitive) to become bigger) · sa वक्षति ((intransitive) to become bigger) · az böyümək ((intransitive) to become bigger) · hy աճել ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · et kasvama ((intransitive) to become bigger) · kdr öś- ((intransitive) to become bigger) · eo kulturi ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · sv växa ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · ka იზრდება ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ast crecer ((intransitive) to become bigger) · zza gırd bıyayen ((intransitive) to become bigger) · fr grandir ((intransitive) to become bigger) · got 𐌰𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · az yetişmək ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · fi kasvaa ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · cs pěstovat ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · he גידל \ גִּדֵּל ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · it spuntare ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · pl zapuszczać ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · ta முளை ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · fo vaksa ((intransitive) to become bigger) · nl telen ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · hu -ul (to assume a condition or quality) · la cresco ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · mn ᠥᠰᠬᠦ ((intransitive) to become bigger) · kim өъсер ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ext crezel ((intransitive) to become bigger) · got 𐌰𐌿𐌺𐌰𐌽 ((intransitive) to become bigger) · uk зроста́ти ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · ru вы́растить ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · el μεγαλώνω ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ug ئۆسمەك ((intransitive) to become bigger) · pl urosnąć ((intransitive) to become bigger) · io kreskar ((intransitive) to become bigger) · nl spruiten ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · fi muuttua (to assume a condition or quality) · pt crescer ((intransitive) to become bigger) · hu -ödik (to assume a condition or quality) · hy մեծանալ ((intransitive) to become bigger) · vo glofön ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ca créixer ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · qu yuriy ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · ko 자라다 ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · eo kreski ((intransitive) to become bigger) · nl ontspruiten ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · hu lesz (to assume a condition or quality) · ru расти́ть ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · ang weaxan ((intransitive) to become bigger) · enm waxen ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · ota بالابانلانمق ((intransitive) to become bigger) · qu ruruy ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ms besarkan ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · goh gruowan (to assume a condition or quality) · goh gruowan ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · fr faire croître ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · hi बढ़ना ((intransitive) to become bigger) · th โต ((intransitive) to become bigger) · is vaxa ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ba буйға етеү ((intransitive) to become bigger) · fa رویاندن ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · hi उगना ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · ckb دەرچوون ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · no vokse ((intransitive) to become bigger) · mi ohi ((intransitive) to become bigger) · fa رستن ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · de züchten ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · ta ஆகு (to assume a condition or quality) · qu wiñay ((intransitive) to become bigger) · da avle ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · da gro ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · hy մեծացնել ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · sq mbi ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · pl zostać (to assume a condition or quality) · as গজা ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · ru расти́ ((intransitive) to become bigger) · la augeō ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · got 𐍅𐌰𐌷𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽 ((intransitive) to become bigger) · as বাঢ়া ((intransitive) to become bigger) · th เพาะ ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · rup crescu ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ko 자라다 ((intransitive) to become bigger) · it diventare (to assume a condition or quality) · ga fás ((intransitive) to become bigger) · da dyrke ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · mk расте ((intransitive) to become bigger) · mr उगणे ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · fi tulla (to assume a condition or quality) · mn өсөх ((intransitive) to become bigger) · he צמח ((intransitive) to appear or sprout) · io augmentar ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · eo kreskigi ((transitive) to cause something to become bigger) · txb tsäm- ((intransitive) to become bigger) · sh ра̑сти ((intransitive) to become bigger) · bg раста́ ((intransitive) to become bigger) · fa رشد کردن ((intransitive) to become bigger) · uli hatiumwlae ((intransitive) to become bigger) · uz oʻsmoq ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ky өсүү ((intransitive) to become bigger) · yi וואַקסן ((intransitive) to become bigger) · mi tipu ((intransitive) to become bigger) · ja 生長する ((intransitive) to become bigger) · hu -odik (to assume a condition or quality) · wa crexhe ((intransitive) to become bigger) · sc cresci ((intransitive) to become bigger) · tg расидан ((intransitive) to become bigger) · he גָּדַל ((intransitive) to become bigger) · tet moris ((intransitive) to become bigger) · sl rasti ((intransitive) to become bigger) · es crecer ((intransitive) to appear or sprout)