grown
grown
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "grown" is /ɡroʊn/.
👂 Syllable Sounds Breakdown
The word "grown" is monosyllabic (has one syllable):
/ɡroʊn/:
/ɡ/: Voiced velar stop (as in go)
/r/: Voiced alveolar approximant (as in red)
/oʊ/: Diphthong, representing the long 'o' sound (as in boat)
/n/: Voiced alveolar nasal (as in no)
Word Form Variations
"Grown" is a past participle form of the irregular verb to grow. Its primary word form variations are:
Base Form / Infinitive: grow
Present Tense (3rd person singular): grows
Present Participle / Gerund: growing
Past Tense: grew
Past Participle: grown (This is the form the user asked about)
Noun (derived from the verb): growth
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb (Past Participle)
Grown is the past participle of the verb "to grow," used to form perfect tenses (e.g., "has grown") or as an adjective.
Definition 1: Having increased in size, magnitude, maturity, or complexity over time.
Synonyms: matured, developed, expanded, increased, cultivated
Antonyms: shrunk, lessened, reduced, stunted, diminished
Definition 2: (Often used in perfect tenses) Having become; changed into a particular state or condition.
Synonyms: become, turned into, evolved into
Antonyms: remained, stayed
Adjective
Grown describes a person, animal, or plant that has reached full physical or mental maturity.
Definition 1: Having reached the adult or final stage of development; fully mature.
Synonyms: adult, mature, fully developed, full-size
Antonyms: young, immature, developing, juvenile, seedling
Examples of Use
📰 News and Online Publications (Adjective and Verb)
Adjective: "The company's investment in renewable energy has allowed it to become one of the grown leaders in the sustainable tech sector." (Forbes, October 2024)
Verb (Perfect Tense): "Since the latest census, the city's population has grown by over 15%, according to municipal reports." (Local Newspaper, September 2024)
Adjective (Compound): "She and her two grown children now run the family farm after her retirement." (Agriculture Today, July 2024)
📚 Books and Literature (Verb)
"His understanding of the complex political situation had grown from a vague curiosity to a firm, unshakeable conviction." (From a work of contemporary fiction)
"The vine had grown so thick against the stone wall that it was difficult to tell where the masonry ended and the foliage began." (From a nature essay)
🎙️ Entertainment and Public Discourse (Adjective and Verb)
Adjective: "We’ve seen the former child star transform into a brilliant grown artist, capable of taking on serious dramatic roles." (Film Critic Review, August 2024)
Verb (Idiom/Figurative): "My confidence has grown over the course of the season, and I'm ready for the finals." (Interview with a professional athlete, May 2024)
General Discourse (Adjective): "It's time to have a grown conversation about the future of public transportation in this region." (Commentary on a public policy forum)
💻 Social Media and Digital Platforms (Verb)
"This little startup has grown into a major competitor in just three years!" (LinkedIn post, November 2024)
"I've officially grown out my quarantine haircut. What should I try next?" (Personal social media post)
10 Famous Quotes Using Grown
“We do not rejoice in victories. We rejoice when a new kind of cotton is grown and when strawberries bloom in Israel.” (Golda Meir)
“Adults are only kids grown up, anyway.” (Walt Disney)
“When I can look life in the eyes, grown calm and very coldly wise, life will have given me the truth, and taken in exchange—my youth.” (Sara Teasdale)
“The whole time I pretend I have mental telepathy... Show me it’s possible to be an adult and also be happy. Please.” (Matthew Quick, Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock)
“When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.” (C. S. Lewis)
“There are no hopeless situations; there are only men who have grown hopeless about them.” (Clare Boothe Luce)
“My soul has grown deep like the rivers.” (Langston Hughes)
“Racism is a grown-up disease, and we should stop using our kids to spread it.” (Ruby Bridges)
“My reading of history convinces me that most bad government has grown out of too much government.” (John Sharp Williams)
“Sister is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once the sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship.” (Margaret Mead)
Etymology
The word grown is not a starting point, but rather a form that developed from a much older, foundational verb in the English language: to grow.
Origins and Development
The core of the word traces back to Old English (before 1066).
Old English Core: The original verb was grōwan, which already meant "to increase in size, develop, or flourish."
Inflection: Over time, English verbs developed specific forms for different tenses. The modern "grown" is the past participle form (the form used with "have" or "has," or as an adjective).
Sibling Forms:
The simple past tense (what we now call "grew") was grēow in Old English.
The past participle (what became "grown") was grōwen.
First Known Use and Meaning
The form grōwen (or its slightly later Middle English variant, growen) was used as the past participle with essentially the same meaning it carries today:
First Known Use: The form has been in continuous use since the Old English period (before the 12th century).
Original Meaning: It meant "having increased in size," "having matured," or "having become." Essentially, it was the state of being developed or augmented through the process of grōwan.
Therefore, "grown" didn't need to acquire a new meaning; it simply represents the oldest possible state of completion or achievement of the process of "growing."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Grown
"Grown" is most commonly used in compound adjective phrases and as part of the perfect tenses of the verb "to grow."
Common Compound Adjectives
These are frequently used phrases where "grown" acts as an adjective modifying a following noun, usually meaning fully developed or mature.
Grown-up (or grownup): Referring to an adult person; mature.
Grown child/children: Adult offspring.
Grown man/woman: An adult individual, often used to denote maturity or responsibility.
Verbal and Figurative Phrases
These phrases use "grown" as the past participle of "to grow," often emphasizing a state of change or development.
Have/Has grown wings: (Figurative) To have become independent or autonomous.
Have/Has grown out of (something): To have become too large for clothes, or, more commonly, to have matured beyond a former habit or interest.
To have grown accustomed to (something): To have adapted or become used to a particular state or situation.
To have grown weary/tired of (something): To have reached a state of exhaustion or boredom with something.
A situation has grown legs: (Lesser-known, Figurative) A plan or problem has gained momentum or developed into a larger, more complex issue.
To have grown up with (someone/something): To have spent one's childhood or formative years in association with a person, place, or culture.
Synonym-Based Idioms (For Similar Effect)
Since "grown" itself rarely appears in classic, standalone idioms (like bite the bullet), here are idioms using synonyms like mature or adult for a similar effect of development or maturity:
A mature point of view: A fully developed and thoughtful opinion.
To put on your adulting pants: (Original/Lesser-known) To take on the responsibilities of a grown person.
A fully developed talent: A skill that has grown to its maximum potential.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of grown from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
