grow up
verb
grew up; grown up; growing up; grows up
1
a
: to grow toward or arrive at full stature or physical or mental maturity : to progress from childhood toward adulthood
growing up intellectually
grew up in the city
also
: to become an adult
She wants to be a doctor when she grows up.
b
: to stop thinking or behaving in a childish way
He should grow up and accept his responsibilities.
2
: to begin to exist and develop as time passes
A number of cities grew up along the river.
Examples of grow up in a Sentence
everyone has to grow up at some point in their lives
Recent Examples on the Web
Khrushchev, who grew up in Ukraine, elevated it to the status of the second most powerful Soviet republic after Russia and, in 1954, transferred Crimea to its control—an act for which Putin assails him today.
—
James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
Woosley, who grew up in New England, now lives in Baker, a town of 100 people.
—Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2025
But Altadena’s business owners – many of whom also grew up and now raise families there – are worried the fires will leave that diversity in the rubble.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
Kollmorgen grew up and worked in Des Moines for 25 years before moving to Oskaloosa two years ago, hoping to fight Iowa's especially high rural cancer rate from a 25-bed hospital that serves 16 counties, mostly in the southeastern part of the state.
—Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grow up
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James Verini, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2025
Woosley, who grew up in New England, now lives in Baker, a town of 100 people.
—Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2025
But Altadena’s business owners – many of whom also grew up and now raise families there – are worried the fires will leave that diversity in the rubble.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
Kollmorgen grew up and worked in Des Moines for 25 years before moving to Oskaloosa two years ago, hoping to fight Iowa's especially high rural cancer rate from a 25-bed hospital that serves 16 counties, mostly in the southeastern part of the state.
—Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grow up
Cite this Entry
“Grow up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grow%20up. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
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