grow up

verb

grew up; grown up; growing up; grows up

intransitive verb

1
a
: to grow toward or arrive at full stature or physical or mental maturity : to progress from childhood toward adulthood
growing up intellectually
grew up in the city
also : to become an adult
She wants to be a doctor when she grows up.
b
: to stop thinking or behaving in a childish way
He should grow up and accept his responsibilities.
2
: to begin to exist and develop as time passes
A number of cities grew up along the river.

Examples of grow up in a Sentence

everyone has to grow up at some point in their lives
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Over eight episodes, the brothers find themselves at the mercy of Mancuso — a former family friend — and his vicious henchmen, and they are forced to confront the emotional scars of growing up with an alcoholic father, who had gambled away his own restaurant. Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2025 That's what had for much of my life growing up. Jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025 Gove is three years younger than Farage, and, like him, part of the generation of British conservatives who grew up enthralled by Margaret Thatcher, and who subsequently led the national revolt against the European Union. Sam Knight, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025 Our thoughts this morning are with the Kirk family, especially his two young children, who will now grow up without their father. ABC News, 21 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grow up

Word History

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of grow up was in 1535

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grow up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grow%20up. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

grow up

verb
: to grow toward or reach full mental and physical growth

More from Merriam-Webster on grow up

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