Phrasal Verbs with GROW

Phrasal verbs with GROW

Hello, English learners! Welcome to a new vocabulary lesson. The verb grow usually means to become bigger, older or more developed. However, when we combine it with particles such as up, apart, into and on, we create phrasal verbs with several useful meanings. In this lesson, you will learn the most common phrasal verbs with grow.

Grow apart

Meaning: to gradually become less close to someone

We normally use grow apart when two people were once close but their relationship changed slowly over time.

• Laura and I were inseparable at university, but we gradually grew apart.
• They grew apart after moving to different cities.

 Grow away from

Meaning: to gradually become less connected to a person, place, belief or way of life

Grow away from is similar to grow apart, but it is less common. It can also describe becoming disconnected from ideas, traditions or habits—not only from people.

• As he got older, he grew away from the beliefs he had been taught as a child.
• She felt that she was slowly growing away from her old friends.

In most everyday situations involving two people, grow apart will sound more natural:

• We grew apart after leaving school.
• I grew away from the traditions I had followed as a child.

Grow back

Meaning: to grow again after being cut, removed or damaged

We commonly use grow back when talking about hair, fur, feathers, grass, plants and parts of the body such as nails.

• Don’t worry—your hair will soon grow back.
• We cut the hedge last month, but it has already grown back.

Common mistake:

❌ My hair grew again quickly.

✅ My hair grew back quickly.

Although grew again is understandable, grew back is the more natural expression when something returns after being removed.

Grow into

1. Become big enough for something

Children can grow into clothes or shoes that are currently too large for them.

• The coat is slightly too big, but she will soon grow into it.

2. Gradually become a particular type of person

We can use grow into to describe someone’s gradual personal development.

• She has grown into a confident and capable young woman.

3. Gradually develop into something larger or more important

• The small family business grew into an international company.   

Phrasal verbs with GROW

Grow on

Meaning: to become more appealing or likeable over time

If a person, place or thing grows on you, you do not necessarily like it at first. Your opinion becomes more positive as you become familiar with it.

• I wasn’t keen on the song at first, but it has grown on me.
• Give the new colleague a chance—he may grow on you.

Common mistake:

❌ I grew on the film.

✅ The film grew on me.

The thing that becomes more likeable is the subject of the sentence.

Grow out of

1. Become too big for clothes or shoes

Grow out of is the opposite of grow into.

• Sam has already grown out of the shoes we bought him last month.

Compare:

• The coat is too large now, but she will grow into it.
• The coat is too small because she has grown out of it.

2. Stop doing or enjoying something as you become older

We use grow out of for habits, interests and types of behaviour that gradually disappear as a person matures.

• He used to be afraid of the dark, but he grew out of it.

3. Develop from a particular situation or idea

When something grows out of another thing, it develops or originates from it.

• The organisation grew out of a small community project.

This meaning is particularly useful in more formal speaking and writing.

Grow up

1. Gradually become an adult

• What do you want to be when you grow up?

2. Start behaving in a mature way

Grow up! can be used as an instruction or criticism when someone is behaving childishly.

• You’re thirty years old—it’s time to grow up and accept responsibility.

Be careful: telling someone to grow up can sound rude or confrontational.

3. Develop or appear gradually

We can use grow up more literally when plants, buildings or communities appear and develop.

• Weeds had grown up around the abandoned house.
• A lively community grew up around the new factory.

For ordinary plant growth, however, we usually use grow rather than grow up:

• Plants grow towards the light.
• These flowers grow well in warm climates.

Quiz: Phrasal Verbs with GROW

Final Thoughts

Phrasal verbs with grow allow us to describe much more than physical growth. We can use them to talk about relationships, childhood, changing tastes, personal development, habits and even the expansion of a small idea into something important.

Try writing your own examples about your life:

• Where did you grow up?
• Have you ever grown apart from a friend?
• Is there a food, song or place that has grown on you?
• Which childhood habits have you grown out of?
• What would you like to grow into professionally?

The more you use these expressions in meaningful contexts, the more naturally they will become part of your active vocabulary.

Related posts:

• Common Phrasal Verbs for B2 First 
• 19 Phrasal Verbs about Friendship 
• Phrasal Verbs Related to Age 
• Common Mistakes with Phrasal Verbs 
• 100 Phrasal Verbs for Everyday Use with Examples and PDF

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