26984 words

grow

13 definitions • 31 examples
1
to increase in size or amount, or to become more advanced or developed:

Examples:

Children grow so quickly.
This plant grows best in the shade.
She's grown three centimetres this year.
Football's popularity continues to grow.
The labour force is expected to grow by two percent next year.
2
If your hair or nails grow, or if you grow them, they become longer:

Examples:

Lottie wants to grow her hair long.
Are you growing a beard?
Wow, your hair's grown!
3
If a plant grows in a particular place, it exists and develops there:

Examples:

There were roses growing up against the wall.
4
If you grow a plant, you put it in the ground and take care of it, usually in order to sell it:

Examples:

The villagers grow coffee and maize to sell in the market.
5
to make a business bigger by increasing sales, employing more people, etc.:

Examples:

We aim to grow the company by giving the customer a better deal.
6
to gradually become tired, old, calm, etc.:

Examples:

He grew bored of the countryside.
7
to gradually start to do something:

Examples:

I've grown to like her over the months.
8
to increase in size or amount, or to allow or encourage something to increase in size or to become more advanced or developed:

Examples:

[ I ] The population is growing rapidly.
[ I ] She’s grown a lot since we last saw her.
[ T ] He began to grow a beard.
[ I ] The economy is expected to grow by 2% next year.
9
to provide a plant with the conditions it needs to develop, or to develop from a seed or small plant:

Examples:

[ I ] This plant grows best in the shade.
[ T ] We’re growing some herbs on the windowsill.
10
to develop gradually, or to start to do something gradually:

Examples:

[ L ] I grew too old to be interested.
[ + to infinitive ] She has grown to like him.
11
to increase in size or amount, or to become more advanced or developed:

Examples:

The company is exploring the idea of acquisitions as a way to grow.
grow by sth The labour force is expected to grow by 2% next year.
grow from sth to sth The number of stores in the town has grown from 80 to over 150.
grow at a rate of sth Sales have grown at a rate of 16.2% annually since 2008.
12
to develop something, so that its amount, size, or level of success increases:

Examples:

grow a company/business The loan will be used to buy the machinery we need to grow the company.
grow revenue/market share/sales The Chinese companies grew their revenue by 53% last year.
This money is going to projects that will create jobs and helpgrow the economy.
13
if you grow a particular plant or crop, you plant it and take care of it, usually in order to sell it:

Examples:

We grow organic fruit and vegetables.

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