Grew is the past tense of the verb grow. It describes something that increased in size, developed, or changed over time.

When you say a plant grew, you mean it got bigger: the seedling you planted last month grew into a tall tomato plant. When you say you grew three inches last year, you mean you got taller. Things can grow in many ways: your vocabulary grows as you learn new words, your savings grow as you add money to your piggy bank, and a city grows as more people move there.

The word also describes mental and emotional development. You might say you grew more confident after practicing your presentation, or that you grew to appreciate vegetables you once disliked. When someone says “I grew up in Boston,” they mean that's where they lived during childhood.

Notice that grew suggests gradual change rather than sudden transformation. A puppy grows into a dog over months, not overnight.