grows - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
grows Word Meanings
- to increase in size or volume
- to develop or become more mature
- to cultivate plants or crops
grows Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
grows Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ɡrəʊ/
US
/ɡroʊ/
grows Word Etymology
Grow = gro- + -w, meaning "to cause to become larger". Origin: Old English 'growan' → Middle English 'growen' → Modern English 'grow'. Imagine a tiny seed sprouting and becoming a tall tree, illustrating growth over time.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I lift a small plant and move it toward the sun, turning the pot so the leaves can reach the light. I adjust the light and the water, and I feel a tiny shift in the stem as it leans toward warmth. Day by day I care with patience, keeping things steady, and I watch it grow taller as the leaves fill in. From this simple routine, growth becomes a felt change, and I and the plant move together toward more life.
Real Context
Grow means to become larger in size or amount, but it also means to develop or mature in various ways. People, animals, and things can grow as time passes, often requiring care, habit, or conditions (water, sunlight, nutrition) to continue. You can say a plant grows from a seed into a seedling and then a tree, or a city grows economically, or a child grows into an adult. We also use grow in phrases like grow up, grow older, or grow a beard. While grow normally pairs with inanimate items' size, it can describe emotions, skills, or relationships that grow stronger over time.
Usage Reminders
- notice the difference between grows in size and grows as a person; use up with people; remember phrasal forms like grow up and grow into; prefer grow for natural changes, not make grow; watch tenses for ongoing growth
Common Misconceptions
- Grow = make something happen; not used with subjects that cause change directly
- Grow up only means getting older, not physically growing
- Confusing grow with increase in price/amount (use rise/amount increase)
- Wrong to say 'grow a tree' for planted trees; say 'the tree grew'
- Using 'grow' for static states (e. g., 'the market grows' is wrong without context)
Thinking Differences
English speakers often separate physical growth (size) from personal growth (developing skills or maturity); learners should pair grow with concrete objects or people and use phrases like grow up for maturation, grow into for fitting a role, and grow out of for outgrowing a habit.
Learning Tips
- Practice with plant growth in daily life
- Use phrases grow up and grow older in context
- Compare grow with increase and develop
- Watch for collocations like growth rate
- Practice past tense: grew, grown, growing
- Use imagery to remember growth over time
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the definition of the word 'grows'?
A.To decrease in size
B.To enlarge or develop over time
C.To stay the same
D.To stop changing
Step 2: Usage
Which of the following sentences uses 'grows' correctly?
A.The tree grows taller each year.
B.She grows angry at the joke.
C.He grows the best flowers in town.
D.The baby grows older and starts to crawl.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar to 'grows'?
A.develops
B.shrinks
C.stays
D.halts
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of the word 'grows'?
A.reduces
B.increases
C.expands
D.elevates
Step 5: Mastery
Can you think of a real-life scenario where a plant increases its size?
A.The garden appears more colorful as the sun shines.
B.The clothes are getting tighter on the child.
C.The tomato plant grows taller with every passing day.
D.We need to trim the hedges next week.
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
🔥 Advanced
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