growing pains

plural noun

1
: pains in the legs of growing children having no demonstrable relation to growth
2
: the stresses and strains attending a new project or development

Examples of growing pains in a Sentence

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.
Of course there’s a chance of growing pains in Parker’s first season. Jon MacHota, New York Times, 27 May 2026 But under the tutelage of new head coach Chris DeMarco, the Liberty are showing growing pains. Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 26 May 2026 To Manning, growing pains are part of starting a new program. Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026 In season 2, Georgie experiences professional growing pains — primarily due to his business rival, Fred Fagenbacher (Matt Letscher) — and Mandy bounces between jobs after her public remarks about her faith cause controversy amongst the conservative locals. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for growing pains

Word History

First Known Use

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of growing pains was in 1810

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Growing pains.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/growing%20pains. Accessed 29 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

growing pains

plural noun
1
: pains in the legs of growing children having no proven relation to growth
2
: difficulties that accompany something new
a business going through growing pains

Medical Definition

growing pains

noun plural
grow·​ing pains ˈgrō-iŋ-ˌpānz How to pronounce growing pains (audio)
: pains occurring in the legs of growing children having no demonstrable relation to growth
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