grow up
verb
grew up; grown up; growing up; grows up
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
Now, Adlon is back as Bobby Hill, who's officially all grown up and working at a sushi restaurant called Robata Chane.
—
EW.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Kemp spent time with Dooley's family growing up and roomed with Derek Dooley's brother in college.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2025
Roberson, who grew up in North Carolina and came to Chicago to attend college, also had family roots in farming: maternal grandparents who were sharecroppers growing tobacco, cotton and peanuts.
—Nara Schoenberg, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Anyone who grew up watching Scheana evolve is getting front row seats to her next era, which puts a more polished and self‑aware version of herself at center-stage.
—Roya Backlund, StyleCaster, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grow up
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.
EW.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Kemp spent time with Dooley's family growing up and roomed with Derek Dooley's brother in college.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2025
Roberson, who grew up in North Carolina and came to Chicago to attend college, also had family roots in farming: maternal grandparents who were sharecroppers growing tobacco, cotton and peanuts.
—Nara Schoenberg, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Anyone who grew up watching Scheana evolve is getting front row seats to her next era, which puts a more polished and self‑aware version of herself at center-stage.
—Roya Backlund, StyleCaster, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grow up
Cite this Entry
“Grow up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grow%20up. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share