it grew late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it grew late" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that time has passed and it is becoming late in the day or evening. Example: "As the sun began to set and the stars appeared, I realized it grew late, and I needed to head home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It grew late.

The Guardian

As it grew late, Mr. Clinton was still shaking hands, stopping to talk and listen, bursting with energy.

The New York Times

When it grew late, he lay down with his wife, Maureen, and they talked about their children until she closed her eyes.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

As the evening grew late, I said to Hass that it must be extremely difficult to live as she does.

The New Yorker

It had seemed like a good evening, Kay-Kay joining them for dinner, sticking around as the hour grew late, rocking Cherry Sue on her hip, helping Anna fix snacks, changing the CD when Ian complained about Henry's music.

The New Yorker

He just grew late.

The Guardian - Sport

But Anthony and the rest of the Knicks continued to fail as the game grew late.

The New York Times - Sports

As the game grew late, Cleveland came up empty in several drives to the basket.

The Guardian - Sport

But the headline figures are misleading.As demand grew late in 2010, consumers purchased more than the economy produced.

The Economist

They never panicked as the hour grew late and the restaurant emptied but we didn't budge.

The New York Times - Food

As the hour grew late, many of the white guests left, and the music grew "blacker and blacker," as the comedian Chris Rock later told an audience.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it grew late" to subtly indicate the passage of time, especially when narrating events or describing a gradual change in atmosphere.

Common error

Avoid using "it grew late" in overly formal or technical writing. Opt for more direct alternatives like "it became late" in such scenarios to maintain clarity and precision.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it grew late" functions as an intransitive clause, indicating a state of becoming. It describes the gradual change in time, leading to a later hour. Ludwig confirms its proper grammatical usage and its appropriateness in various written contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it grew late" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to indicate the passing of time and the approach of lateness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for general use and can set the scene in narrative and descriptive writing. While not overly formal, it fits well in various contexts, especially news and media. Alternatives like "it became late" or "it was getting late" can offer more direct alternatives for specific contexts. While grammatically correct, the usage frequency of the expression is still uncommon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it became late

Direct synonym, simply replacing 'grew' with 'became' maintaining the same meaning and structure.

it was getting late

Emphasizes the process of becoming late, adding a sense of ongoing change.

the hour was late

Shifts the focus to the hour itself being late, a more formal and literary expression.

night was falling

More descriptive, focusing on the visual aspect of the evening approaching.

dusk was approaching

Highlights the transition from day to night, emphasizing the early stages of lateness.

evening deepened

More poetic and evocative, focusing on the intensification of the evening atmosphere.

the day waned

Emphasizes the decline of daylight, a more formal and literary expression.

the sun set

Focuses on the specific event of sunset as an indicator of approaching lateness.

darkness descended

Highlights the arrival of darkness as a sign of the late hour.

time slipped away

Abstractly expresses the passing of time, leading to lateness.

FAQs

What does "it grew late" mean?

The phrase "it grew late" means that time passed and it became late in the day or evening. It suggests a gradual transition towards lateness.

Are there other ways to say "it grew late"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "it became late", "it was getting late", or "the hour was late" depending on the context.

Is "it grew late" formal or informal?

The phrase "it grew late" is generally considered to be neutral in formality. While not overly formal, it's suitable for narrative and descriptive writing. More formal alternatives are available if required.

How can I use "it grew late" in a sentence?

You can use "it grew late" to set the scene or indicate the progression of time. For example: "As they continued their conversation, "it grew late", and they decided to call it a night."