grow up
HighInformal to neutral. 'Mature' is the more formal synonym.
Definition
Meaning
To progress from childhood to adulthood; to mature physically, mentally, or emotionally.
To develop or become established over time (e.g., an idea, a movement, a friendship). Also used as an imperative to tell someone to stop behaving childishly.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A phrasal verb (intransitive, inseparable). The focus is on the process or state of reaching maturity. Can describe physical, psychological, or social development.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical. Minor differences in typical surrounding vocabulary (e.g., 'town' vs. 'city').
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. The imperative 'Grow up!' is equally common as a mild rebuke.
Frequency
Extremely high and equal frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + grow up[Subject] + grow up + in/with/without + [Noun Phrase][Subject] + grow up + to be/become + [Noun/Adjective]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Grow up! (imperative)”
- “grew up on (e.g., grew up on hip-hop)”
- “all grown up”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used literally. Metaphorical: 'The startup grew up into a major corporation.'
Academic
Used in developmental psychology/sociology contexts: 'Children who grow up in multilingual environments...'
Everyday
The primary context: discussing childhood, family, personal development. 'Where did you grow up?'
Technical
Not typically used in technical registers unless in social science fields.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He grew up in a small village in Cornwall.
- You need to grow up and take some responsibility.
- The rivalry between the two firms grew up over decades.
American English
- She grew up in a suburb of Chicago.
- Oh, grow up! That joke wasn't funny.
- A close friendship grew up between them during college.
adverb
British English
- She behaves very grown-up. (informal, hyphenated)
- He dressed grown-up for the interview.
American English
- He started acting more grown-up. (informal, hyphenated)
- Try to talk grown-up to the clients.
adjective
British English
- He's very grown-up for a ten-year-old. (hyphenated)
- She made a very grown-up decision.
American English
- That was a grown-up thing to say. (hyphenated)
- They watched a grown-up movie.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I want to be a doctor when I grow up.
- He grew up in a big family.
- My sister is growing up very fast.
- Children who grow up with pets often develop strong empathy.
- She grew up to become a famous musician.
- You should grow up and stop playing silly pranks.
- Growing up in a bilingual household presented its own unique challenges.
- A certain distrust of authority grew up among the population after the scandal.
- He's incredibly mature; it's as if he never went through a gawky phase while growing up.
- The cultural norms we grow up with are often internalised unconsciously.
- A complex web of traditions had grown up around the ancient ceremony.
- Despite his successful career, he still harbours the insecurities of the shy boy he was while growing up.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a plant: a seed is planted (born), it GROWS UPwards towards the sun (matures).
Conceptual Metaphor
MATURITY IS UP (contrast with 'childishness is down'). PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT IS VERTICAL GROWTH.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'grow' (расти) alone. 'Grow up' specifically means взрослеть, вырастать (достигать зрелости), not just увеличиваться в размерах.
- The imperative 'Grow up!' translates as 'Повзрослей!', not a direct translation of 'расти'.
- Avoid calquing 'He grew up in London' as *'Он вырос в Лондоне' using the perfective aspect incorrectly; use 'Он рос в Лондоне' (imperfective) for the process.
Common Mistakes
- Using it transitively: *'She grew up her children' (Correct: 'She raised her children' or 'Her children grew up').
- Confusing 'grow' and 'grow up': *'The company grew up rapidly' (if meaning expanded, use 'grew').
- Using past participle incorrectly: *'I am grown up in Scotland' (Correct: 'I grew up in Scotland').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'grow up' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral to informal. In very formal writing (e.g., academic reports), 'mature', 'reach adulthood', or 'be raised' are often preferred.
'Grow' is general: increase in size, quantity, or intensity (e.g., plants grow, businesses grow). 'Grow up' is specific: the process of changing from a child to an adult.
Yes, especially to emphasise the ongoing process. E.g., 'Our children are growing up so quickly.' The imperative 'Grow up!' is never continuous.
'Upbringing' (the way a child is raised). 'Growth' is related to 'grow'. There is no direct noun like '*grow-up' for the process; you use 'childhood development' or 'maturation'.