growing pains: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumSemi-formal to informal, predominantly metaphorical.
Quick answer
What does “growing pains” mean?
The temporary physical discomfort experienced by children and adolescents, often in the legs, as they grow.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The temporary physical discomfort experienced by children and adolescents, often in the legs, as they grow.
The difficulties, challenges, or periods of adjustment experienced in the early stages of development or expansion of an organization, system, project, or individual.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term and its usage are identical in both varieties. Spelling remains 'growing pains' in both.
Connotations
Identical connotations of temporary struggle associated with positive development.
Frequency
Equal frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “growing pains” in a Sentence
experience [growing pains]go through [growing pains][Organization] is having [growing pains][growing pains] of [something new]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “growing pains” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The start-up is currently **growing painfully** as it scales up.
- The team **grew** through some significant **pains** last quarter.
American English
- The company **grew painfully** in its second year.
- We **are growing** and experiencing the **pains** that come with it.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to operational challenges faced by a company during rapid expansion or after a merger.
Academic
Used in sociology, business studies, and developmental psychology to describe transitional difficulties in systems or individuals.
Everyday
Commonly describes personal adjustments to new life stages or the challenges of a new project, like renovating a house.
Technical
In medicine, a specific, often benign, musculoskeletal condition in children ('benign nocturnal limb pains of childhood').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “growing pains”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “growing pains”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “growing pains”
- Using it for permanent or declining problems (e.g., 'the company's growing pains led to its bankruptcy' – implies failure, not temporary difficulty). Treating it as a singular noun: 'a growing pain' is less common for the metaphor.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'growing pains' is a common term for recurrent limb pains in children, though the exact cause is not fully understood and it's considered benign.
It is typically used for challenges within a context of positive growth or development. Using it for purely negative decline (e.g., a failing company) is often incorrect and confusing.
They are largely synonymous in metaphorical use. 'Teething problems' (more common in UK English) often implies very early-stage, initial glitches, while 'growing pains' can extend to challenges during any phase of scaling up.
The term is almost always used in the plural ('growing pains'), even when referring to a single type of challenge, as it encompasses a period or set of difficulties.
The temporary physical discomfort experienced by children and adolescents, often in the legs, as they grow.
Growing pains is usually semi-formal to informal, predominantly metaphorical. in register.
Growing pains: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡrəʊ.ɪŋ ˈpeɪnz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡroʊ.ɪŋ ˈpeɪnz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Go through growing pains”
- “Suffer from growing pains”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a small plant pushing through soil—it's growing, but the resistance causes temporary strain or 'pains.'
Conceptual Metaphor
DEVELOPMENT IS A PHYSICAL JOURNEY WITH OBSTACLES / MATURING IS A PHYSICAL GROWTH PROCESS.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'growing pains' LEAST appropriate?