outgrow
verb
out·grow
ˌau̇t-ˈgrō 
outgrew
ˌau̇t-ˈgrü
; outgrown
ˌau̇t-ˈgrōn
; outgrowing
; outgrown
ˌau̇t-ˈgrōn
; outgrowing
1
: to grow or increase faster than
mankind is outgrowing food supplies—
R. C. Murphy
R. C. Murphy2
: to grow too large or too mature for
outgrew his best suit
the need to outgrow the habit of war—Norman Cousins
Norman CousinsExamples 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
Fear of outgrowing your friends Dimming your light and downplaying your dreams is a way to quell the fear of outgrowing your circle.
—Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
This summer, a food truck favorite that’s quickly outgrowing its current space is moving into the Camp North End location that was previously home to Babe & Butcher.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2025
What’s more, the higher and more narrowly prescribed their expectations for their children, the more unmoored parents will be once their children inevitably outgrow and defy those expectations.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
Repeat allergy testing is also sometimes helpful to see if your child has outgrown an allergy.
—Ruth Jessen Hickman, Md, Health, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outgrow
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Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
This summer, a food truck favorite that’s quickly outgrowing its current space is moving into the Camp North End location that was previously home to Babe & Butcher.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2025
What’s more, the higher and more narrowly prescribed their expectations for their children, the more unmoored parents will be once their children inevitably outgrow and defy those expectations.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
Repeat allergy testing is also sometimes helpful to see if your child has outgrown an allergy.
—Ruth Jessen Hickman, Md, Health, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for outgrow
Cite this Entry
“Outgrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outgrow. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
outgrow
verb
out·grow
(ˈ)au̇t-ˈgrō
1
: to grow faster than
2
: to grow too large or too mature for
outgrew their clothes
outgrow playing with dolls
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