outgrow

verb

out·​grow ˌau̇t-ˈgrō 

outgrew ˌau̇t-ˈgrü  ; outgrown ˌau̇t-ˈgrōn  ; outgrowing

transitive verb

1

: to grow or increase faster than

mankind is outgrowing food supplies

—R. C. Murphy

2

: to grow too large or too mature for

outgrew his best suit

the need to outgrow the habit of war

—Norman Cousins

Examples of outgrow in a Sentence

Kids outgrow their clothes so quickly.

The plant has outgrown my garden.

Our business is outgrowing its small office building.

She's outgrown most of her toys.

I realized that I had outgrown my old high school friends.

Recent Examples on the Web

Even as his star outgrows his small hometown in northern Georgia, McConkey has maintained his humble nature with the Chargers, who the 22-year-old rookie leads with 30 catches for 376 yards and four touchdowns entering a road game against the Cleveland Browns (2-6) at 10 a.m. PST Sunday. —Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024

The uniform can fit a girl for up to three years, adjusting six sizes; when outgrown, it can be handed down to younger girls. —CNN, 30 Oct. 2024

Oftentimes players can outgrow certain systems, or they are passed over by younger more dynamic players. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024

Watch on Max Scream The meta horror movie to end all other meta horror movies, the original Scream might have outgrown some of its more garish fashions (most of them worn by Courteney Cox’s Gayle Weathers), but the story is still solid. —Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

outgrow

verb

out·​grow (ˈ)au̇t-ˈgrō 

outgrew -ˈgrü  ; outgrown -ˈgrōn  ; outgrowing

1

: to grow faster than

2

: to grow too large or too mature for

outgrew their clothes

outgrow playing with dolls