grow up

verb

grew up; grown up; growing up; grows up

intransitive verb

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.

Synonyms

• age
• develop
• grow
• mature
• progress
• ripen

Examples of grow up in a Sentence

everyone has to grow up at some point in their lives

Recent Examples on the Web

Herrera, 64, grew up in a colonia in Weslaco, a small city nestled near the heart of the Rio Grande Valley. —Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 1 Dec. 2024

Born in 1952 and raised in Edgewood, Scheper grew up in a large and loving Catholic family, the middle of nine siblings. —Leyla Shokoohe, The Enquirer, 1 Dec. 2024

Alexander grew up in New Jersey and was a soldier in the Israeli military when Hamas militants attacked on the morning of Oct. 7, 2023. —Lucia Suarez Sang, CBS News, 1 Dec. 2024

Born in Athens, in 1971, Hart grew up in Ruston, Louisiana, alongside Schneider, Bill Doss, and Jeff Mangum. —Walden Green, Pitchfork, 30 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

grow up

verb

: to grow toward or reach full mental and physical growth