grew intrigued

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grew intrigued" is not standard in written English; the correct form is "grew intrigued by" or "became intrigued." You can use it when describing a gradual increase in curiosity or interest about something.
Example: "As she read the book, she grew intrigued by the complex characters and their motivations."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"Do you think you can convince someone you're not?" Nesbit, the Roane coach, grew intrigued.

The New York Times - Sports

Gradually, it dawned on us that this was the actual factory, and we grew intrigued.

The New Yorker

When Ms. Garmley approached Westchester Residential Opportunities, she was looking for an apartment, but she grew intrigued when the agency suggested a home share.

The New York Times

A former advertising man who grew intrigued by the potential of businesses and other non-state organisations to bring about social change, he joined his old friend's campaign to remake the Conservative Party.Mr Hilton works closely with Oliver Letwin, a cabinet-office minister no less eager to strip power from the centre.

The Economist

As our conversation progressed and we made plans to meet, she grew intrigued by the idea of publicly sharing her story.

Science Magazine

Like most stamp experts, Savastano started collecting as a young boy in England and quickly grew intrigued by the process of finding and sorting miniature works of art from places near and far.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Mr. Obama, they said, has also grown intrigued with two other appeals judges, Sidney R. Thomas of Montana and Ann Claire Williams of Chicago, although they may be tryouts for a future opening.

The New York Times

Increasingly, Stern has grown intrigued by soccer's 32-team World Cup, held every four years, extending for an entire month, unencumbered by simultaneous competition from other sports.

The New York Times - Sports

But since the incident there has been growing intrigue over the circumstances leading up to the accident.

Independent

And Americans grew more intrigued.

The New York Times

As they grew more intrigued, they found layer after layer of cross-references in scientific publications.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, use the phrase "grew intrigued by" or "became intrigued by" to clearly indicate the object or subject of the intrigue. Alternatively, use "became fascinated by" or "developed an interest in".

Common error

Avoid omitting "by" when using "grew intrigued"; it's more grammatically sound to say "grew intrigued by" something. Without "by", the sentence may sound incomplete or awkward.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grew intrigued" functions as a descriptive verb phrase, indicating a gradual increase in interest or curiosity. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it is often more grammatically correct to use "grew intrigued by" or "became intrigued".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science & Research

25%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "grew intrigued" expresses an increasing sense of interest or curiosity. However, Ludwig AI highlights that it's generally considered more grammatically correct to use "grew intrigued by" or alternatives like "became intrigued". The phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts. To maintain clarity and grammatical precision, always consider adding "by" after "intrigued" to specify the object of interest.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became intrigued

Replaces "grew" with "became", emphasizing a transition into a state of intrigue.

became fascinated

Substitutes "intrigued" with "fascinated", indicating a deeper level of captivation.

developed an interest

Rephrases the idea as the development of an interest, highlighting the gradual nature of the intrigue.

found it captivating

Shifts the focus to the object of intrigue, describing it as captivating.

was increasingly curious

Highlights the growing curiosity, focusing on the emotional aspect.

became increasingly interested

Emphasizes the increased level of interest over time.

began to find interesting

Focuses on the starting point of interest, suggesting an initial lack of intrigue.

had their interest piqued

Uses a more figurative expression to indicate the sudden awakening of interest.

was drawn to

Implies a compelling attraction that leads to interest.

started to wonder about

Suggests the beginning of a contemplative interest.

FAQs

Is "grew intrigued" grammatically correct?

While frequently used, "grew intrigued" is often considered grammatically incorrect. The more accepted form is "grew intrigued by" or alternatives like "became intrigued".

What's the difference between "grew intrigued" and "became intrigued"?

"Grew intrigued" implies a gradual increase in intrigue, while "became intrigued" suggests a more immediate shift to a state of intrigue. However, the phrase "grew intrigued" should be followed by 'by'.

What can I say instead of "grew intrigued"?

You can use alternatives like "became fascinated", "developed an interest", or "was increasingly curious".

How to use "grew intrigued by" in a sentence?

You might say, "As she read the novel, she "grew intrigued by" the complex plot twists". Ensure that 'by' follows 'intrigued' to maintain grammatical correctness.