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.
She's grown up in a household of no alcohol. Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 11 Mar. 2025 Yanagawa grew up, moved to Chicago and gravitated to comedy clubs such as Zanies and The Second City. Patrick Mooney, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025 Like her brother, Margot is growing up outside of the spotlight. Katie Mannion, People.com, 11 Mar. 2025 But many of her fondest memories — from her dad sitting outside listening to the birds and feeding the hummingbirds, to watching her kids grow up over the years — were made on a swing bench outside the house. Jordan Greene, People.com, 11 Mar. 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 19 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

grow up

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

More from Merriam-Webster on grow up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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