grow

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "grow" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as either a verb or a noun in most contexts. For example, "Since he started to invest in stocks, his money has grown exponentially." or "With the right care, the garden is likely to experience healthy growth."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Books

Sports

Lifestyle

Music

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"They knew we wanted to stop consumers being ripped off, but weren't convinced we also wanted businesses to grow and flourish.

The Guardian

People knew how we wanted to stop exploitation in the workplace, but not how we'd grow our workplaces to create more jobs and stronger growth.

The Guardian

I think the age of the universe has zero to do with how our economy is going to grow.

The New York Times

The strain is likely to grow more acute as the government depends on helicopter gunships to extend its reach to parts of the country rendered impassable to logistics convoys and even armored vehicles by the rebels' improvised bombs.

The New York Times

Rather than crushing the party to his right, Orbán has helped it grow.

The Guardian - Opinion

It grew by 0.9% and is set to grow at almost twice the speed of the euro area this year.

The Guardian - Business

"The country has made it clear that it is looking to grow its tourism sector in the coming years," said David Thompson from JTS. "To do so will require both international tourism expertise and foreign language skills".

The Guardian

It's a fantastic social document of when you grow up as well: "A feminist's Austin Maxi parked outside/With anti-nicotine anti-nuclear stickers on the side".

The Guardian

Barack Obama / [No subject] - We should grow some kickass facial hair.

The Guardian

Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the RCN, said: "Whoever forms the next government must learn from this report and take immediate action to grow the nursing workforce and ensure it can keep up with demand with a sustainable and long-term plan.

The Guardian

To grow up is to confront the disappointments of language, in a way, and to suffer the divorce between what we experience and what we imagine to be real.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grow" to talk about abstract ideas, like "grow awareness" or "grow interest", to imply a natural increase over time.

Common error

Avoid using "grow" to describe immediate or sudden changes; instead, use words like "increase" or "jump". "Grow" implies a gradual process.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "grow" is as an intransitive verb indicating a process of becoming larger or more mature. As confirmed by Ludwig, it can also be used as a transitive verb when referring to cultivating plants. Examples from Ludwig illustrate both usages, such as "Children grow quickly" and "He grows peppers and squash each summer in his garden."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

16%

Sports

7%

Less common in

Books

10%

Lifestyle

7%

Music

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grow" is a versatile verb commonly used to describe a process of increasing size, development, or maturity, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions both transitively and intransitively, applying to physical entities, abstract concepts, and personal progress. Its neutral register makes it suitable for a wide range of contexts, from news and business to personal narratives. While grammatically straightforward, it's best to reserve "grow" for gradual changes, avoiding it in scenarios requiring words that indicate immediate or sudden changes. With its frequent appearance in authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times, "grow" is a reliable and effective choice for describing expansion and evolution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

develop

Suggests a process of maturing or evolving.

expand

Implies an increase in size, scope or extent.

increase

Indicates a general rise in quantity or degree.

flourish

Denotes thriving or prospering.

thrive

Indicates vigorous growth and prosperity.

mature

Highlights the process of becoming fully developed.

cultivate

Specifically refers to nurturing growth, often in plants or skills.

progress

Emphasizes forward movement or improvement.

extend

Suggests making something longer or more widespread.

amplify

To make something louder or more noticeable, similar to increasing impact.

FAQs

How can I use "grow" in a sentence?

You can use "grow" to describe something increasing in size or developing over time. For example, "The plant will grow if you water it regularly" or "The company aims to grow its market share this year."

What can I say instead of "grow"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "increase", "develop", "expand", or "mature".

Which is correct, "grow up" or "grew up"?

"Grow up" is the present tense form, while "grew up" is the past tense form. Use "grow up" when talking about the future or general truths, and "grew up" when talking about something that happened in the past.

What's the difference between "grow" and "growth"?

"Grow" is a verb that describes the process of increasing in size or developing, while "growth" is a noun that refers to the result or state of growing. For instance, "The business will grow" (verb) versus "The business experienced rapid growth" (noun).