outgrow

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "outgrow" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb that means to grow out of or surpass something, usually due to maturity. For example, "The child quickly outgrew his parents' attempts to keep him away from candy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I accepted all these honours fully aware that Nigeria was not perfect; but I had a strong belief that we would outgrow our shortcomings under leaders committed to uniting our diverse peoples.

The Guardian - Books

James Record, a bank analyst at SNL Securities, reckons that, as big banks try to outgrow rivals by acquiring or merging, the stockmarket has sensed that they are starting to care less about what they pay and are thus forking out premiums that are hard to justify.

The Economist

The country could outgrow its high and misdirected public spending by limiting any further increase in it to half the rate of economic growth, as economists linked to the opposition PSDB have been suggesting.

The Economist

Like Canada's participation in the war in Afghanistan, which dragged on for 12 years and involved 3,000 troops at its height, the fight against IS threatens to outgrow its modest beginnings.

The Economist

The founders realised during the 1990s that Adobe had to outgrow its "garage" culture.

The Economist

"We still expect to outgrow the segment in 2006.

The Economist

Steel the prize Not exactly sitting pretty Trouble clicks Yahoo!'s peanut-butter problem The universal diarist Reprints Related items Business.view: Middle-aged spreadNov 21st 2006 Tata and Corus: Steely logicOct 26th 2006Just as Tata is expanding outside India, so CSN threatens to outgrow Brazil.

The Economist

But a big plus point is that, as intra-regional trade has grown more dependable, East Asia is at last beginning to outgrow its reliance on America's economy.

The Economist

As big Russian firms outgrow opportunities at home they are increasingly venturing abroad, especially to countries where Russian is still spoken.The government is doing much the same.

The Economist

The end of wartime controls, the gradual abolition of internal tariffs and the shift of labour out of farming and into industry allowed the EEC to outgrow most of the world, including not only European countries outside the club but also the United States.

The Economist

That could reach 40% by 2004 if the funds maintain their current 25-30% equity weighting.All the more reason, say the funds, for the government to lift their 5% cap on foreign investments, lest the funds outgrow the local bourse especially given the present dearth of public offerings and privatisation opportunities.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about personal development or societal progress, use "outgrow" to indicate a positive transition beyond limitations or outdated practices.

Common error

Avoid using "outgrow" when simply describing an increase in size or quantity. "Outgrow" implies surpassing limitations or a change in maturity, not just getting bigger.

Linguistic Context

The verb "outgrow" functions primarily to describe a transition beyond a former state, either physically by exceeding size constraints or metaphorically by developing past a limiting condition. Ludwig examples demonstrate its usage in business, personal development, and societal progress.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Encyclopedias

14%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

4%

Academic & Scientific

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outgrow" is a versatile verb indicating exceeding limits or maturing beyond something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, most notably in news media and encyclopedias. When using "outgrow", ensure it accurately reflects a transition beyond a previous state, rather than simple growth. Consider alternatives like "mature beyond" or "grow beyond" to fine-tune your message and avoid potential misinterpretations. The semantic interchangeability with the mentioned alternatives is not always 100%.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grow beyond

Similar to "outgrow" but emphasizes the process of growth.

mature beyond

Focuses on emotional or intellectual development beyond a certain point.

move past

Indicates a progression beyond a limiting situation or belief.

become too advanced for

Implies that something is no longer suitable due to increased sophistication.

surpass

Highlights exceeding expectations or limits.

exceed the limits of

Highlights that restrictions are surpassed.

rise above

Suggests overcoming a challenge or negative situation.

leave behind

Indicates a deliberate departure from a former state or behavior.

get over

Focuses on emotional recovery and moving forward.

no longer need

Emphasizes a reduced dependence or necessity.

FAQs

How can I use "outgrow" in a sentence?

You can use "outgrow" to describe the act of becoming too large for something, like "The child will soon "outgrow" these clothes". It can also mean to mature beyond something, such as "Societies should "outgrow" the need for revenge".

What's the difference between "outgrow" and "surpass"?

"Outgrow" often implies exceeding something in a developmental or maturity sense, while "surpass" generally means to exceed in a quantifiable or measurable way. For instance, a child "outgrows" their clothes, but an athlete might "surpass" a record.

What can I say instead of "outgrow"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "mature beyond", "grow beyond", or "move past".

Is it correct to say a company "outgrew" its office space?

Yes, it is correct. "Outgrow" can be used to indicate that a company's needs have exceeded the capacity of its current office space, necessitating a move to a larger location.