To grow means to get bigger, stronger, or more developed over time. Plants grow taller when they get sunlight and water. Children grow several inches each year, eventually becoming adults. A small business can grow into a large company as it gains more customers.

Growing happens in many ways beyond just physical size. Your vocabulary grows as you learn new words. Your skills grow with practice: a beginning pianist grows more confident and capable with each lesson. Friendships grow deeper as you spend time together and learn to trust each other. Even a small problem can grow into a bigger one if you ignore it.

The word also describes the action of raising or cultivating something. Farmers grow crops like corn and wheat. You might grow tomatoes in your backyard garden. Some people grow beards, letting their facial hair get longer instead of shaving.

Scientists sometimes say that children don't just grow up, they grow out (wider) and grow into their adult features. When someone says you've grown, they usually mean you've matured or changed in a noticeable way. Growth is what happens when something grows, whether that's physical growth, personal growth, or the growth of an idea.