grow upwards

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grow upwards" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the direction of growth, typically in reference to plants, trees, or even metaphorical growth in personal development or progress. Example: "The young sapling began to grow upwards, reaching for the sunlight that filtered through the canopy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Some plants that would usually be used as ground cover will adapt and grow upwards if you train them.

Independent

Unable to expand outwards or sideways (as electricity turbines still rumble away in its south-eastern quadrant), Tate Modern had to grow upwards.

The Guardian - Arts

Following advice from a garden centre, I prune back the new growth each spring and tie the shrubs up to encourage it to grow upwards.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When they grow upwards, R3 VU, their amyloplasts are located near the proximal wall.

Annals of Botany

Where Holocene elevated sea levels allowed coral reefs to grow upwards, remnants of these former surfaces may now exist as coral pinnacles or rochers champignons (mushroom rocks) sticking up above modern reefs.

Geoscience Letters

Soda straws, draperies, popcorn, and flowstone mimic the everyday objects they're named for, while stalagmites grow upwards from the cave floor and stalactites hang from the ceiling like the fangs of some troglodytic monster.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Growing alongside its rivals like an oak from an acorn, i is akin to a young tree, growing upwards, hopefully for a long time to come.

Independent

Futuristic Garden: £12, sciencemuseumshop.co.uk Pop some seeds into the nutrient-packed, different coloured gels and watch them germinate, first developing roots and then growing upwards towards the light.

Independent

"The current system resembles an upside-down pyramid with the president at the bottom and everything else growing upwards on top of him.

The Guardian

Their journey is punctuated by meetings with other extraordinary characters, such as the floating Alex Bings, who was born in the air and is growing down: he scoffs at the human system of growing upwards and not knowing where you'll stop until you get there ("Why, when you're 15 things won't look at all the way they did when you were 10, and at 20 everything will change again").

The Guardian - Books

After that, rather like humans, they stop growing upwards and start growing sideways.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing literal growth, such as that of plants or buildings, "grow upwards" is clear and concise. In metaphorical contexts, ensure the upward direction aligns with the intended meaning of progress or improvement.

Common error

Avoid using "grow upwards" in contexts where the intended meaning is simply improvement or progress without a vertical dimension. Instead, consider using phrases like "develop further" or "advance" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grow upwards" functions primarily as a verb phrase, combining the action of growing with the directional adverb "upwards". It signifies an increase in height or vertical dimension, as seen in Ludwig's examples relating to plants, buildings, and even abstract concepts like profits.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grow upwards" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase that describes development in a vertical direction. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage spans various contexts, from describing the physical growth of plants and buildings to the metaphorical growth of profits or organizations. While "grow upwards" is generally clear and concise, it's important to ensure its metaphorical use aligns with the intended meaning of vertical progress. Alternatives like "ascend" or "rise" may be more appropriate in certain contexts, as they have slightly different connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extend upward

Focuses on the lengthening aspect of growth, less on the overall development.

develop vertically

Emphasizes the direction of development but is less concise.

shoot up

Similar to "sprout up", indicating quick and noticeable upward growth.

increase vertically

Highlights the increase in vertical dimension, less holistic than "grow upwards".

ascend

More formal and implies a rise to a higher position or level.

sprout up

Suggests a rapid and sudden growth upwards, often used for plants.

move upward

A general term indicating movement in an upward direction, less specific about growth.

rise

A general term for moving to a higher position; lacks the growth connotation.

climb

Implies effort or assistance in moving upwards, often in a physical sense.

tower

Implies reaching a great height, often used when comparing to surrounding objects.

FAQs

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

You can use "grow upwards" to describe the direction of growth, such as in "The plant began to grow upwards towards the sunlight" or metaphorically, as in "The company's profits continue to grow upwards each quarter".

What are some alternatives to "grow upwards"?

Some alternatives to "grow upwards" include "ascend", "rise", or "develop vertically", depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "grow upwards" since growth implies an upward direction?

While growth often implies upward direction, "grow upwards" can be used for emphasis or clarity, especially when distinguishing vertical growth from horizontal or lateral expansion.

When is it more appropriate to use "rise" instead of "grow upwards"?

"Rise" is more appropriate when describing a general movement to a higher position, whereas "grow upwards" specifically refers to a process of development and increase in height. For instance, you might say "the sun rises" rather than "the sun grows upwards".