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

However, research has shown up to 20% of kids with a peanut allergy eventually outgrow it.6 Was this page helpful? —Sarah Scott, Parents, 14 Feb. 2025

Original price: $159.99 Your child won’t outgrow the Safety 1st Grow and Go car seat. —Christopher Murray, Fox News, 10 Feb. 2025

How to either nurture that or outgrow it as best suits me? —Chris Wallace, Vogue, 4 Feb. 2025

No! One producer who has premiered several films in Park City noted to me that Sundance is, by and large, the only festival that filmmakers are expected to outgrow. —Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for outgrow

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

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