grow privately

USAGE SUMMARY

"grow privately" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that is happening or developing without any outside interference. For example: "The software company chose to grow privately, without any investments or external help."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Sometimes two or three days pass without my seeing her, and I grow privately concerned.

The New York Times

Stories spread themselves slowly through the territories of our experience and seed ideas that grow privately, organically, over many years.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Though the limes are still occasionally grown privately, even in backyards, many pies are made with imported limes or bottled juice.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The malls in Bloomington and Edmonton are part of Triple Five's growing, privately held, real estate empire that includes three new shopping centers under development in Nevada and Arizona.

The New York Times

Glu Mobile was ranked 44 overall of the list of the fastest growing privately held companies for the 2006 calendar year, and was ranked number one in media and number seven for San Francisco Bay Area companies.

TechCrunch

In addition to his solar showrooms, Bland founded CalCom Solar, which is ranked No. 3 on Inc magazine's list of the fastest growing privately owned companies.

Los Angeles Times

Evans has stayed behind the scenes for over 15 years, but in the last three years decided to grow his personal brand, leading him to build one of the fastest growing privately held marketing and advertising companies in America, Inc. Magazine.

Huffington Post

As a mum, my view is that the media's right of free expression cannot outweigh a child's right to grow up privately and safely.

The Guardian - Opinion

Listing the company is certainly a possibility [as is] continuing to grow it privately.

TechCrunch

According to Salvador Johnson, the largest peyote distributor in Texas, 100percentt of the land in Texas where peyote grows is privately owned, which means that if peyoteros are going to harvest peyote, they need permission from landowners.

Vice

The results suggest that people living close to the river may have been contaminated by Beta-HCH, most likely through water from private wells and privately grown food.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grow privately" to describe a strategy of expansion or development that is intentionally kept out of the public eye, often to maintain a competitive advantage or avoid scrutiny.

Common error

Avoid using "grow privately" when you simply mean 'growing personally' or describing any internal development. The phrase implies a deliberate choice to keep the growth process hidden or independent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grow privately" functions as a verb phrase where 'grow' is the main verb indicating development or expansion and 'privately' is an adverb modifying the verb, indicating the manner of growth, in a non-public or independent way. Ludwig confirms that it's a usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grow privately" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe development or expansion without external investment or public attention. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a valid and understandable expression. Its usage, though relatively rare, appears primarily in news and media contexts, as well as encyclopedias and science publications, suggesting its relevance in describing business strategies, plant growing, or personal developments in professional or factual settings. To convey similar ideas, consider alternatives such as "develop independently" or "mature discreetly". While the phrase is grammatically sound, make sure it describes a deliberate strategy, and is not confused with simply growing in private.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

progress in private

A more straightforward alternative, focusing on the privacy of the progression.

develop independently

Focuses on the autonomy of the development process.

mature discreetly

Emphasizes the subtle and confidential aspect of the growth.

cultivate internally

Highlights the internal efforts and resources used for development.

expand without publicity

Specifies the absence of public attention during expansion.

advance confidentially

Stresses the secrecy and privacy surrounding the advancement.

flourish behind the scenes

Implies that the growth is happening unnoticed by the public.

evolve in seclusion

Suggests isolation as a factor in the developmental process.

build up in secrecy

Highlights the clandestine nature of the development process.

boom under the radar

Indicates rapid growth that goes unnoticed or unreported.

FAQs

How can I use "grow privately" in a sentence?

You can use "grow privately" to describe a company's decision to expand without seeking public investment, or an individual's decision to develop a skill without public display. For example: "The software company chose to "grow privately", without any investments or external help".

What does it mean for a company to "grow privately"?

When a company chooses to "grow privately", it means that it is expanding and developing without seeking public funding through methods like IPOs (Initial Public Offerings). It relies on its own revenue, private investment, or loans instead.

What can I say instead of "grow privately"?

Alternatives include "develop independently", "mature discreetly", or "cultivate internally", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "grow privately" the same as 'growing in private'?

No, "grow privately" implies a deliberate choice regarding funding and publicity during development, whereas 'growing in private' simply means developing away from public view. The former is a strategic decision; the latter is merely a setting.