grows
grows
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "grows" is /ɡroʊz/.
Syllable Breakdown
The word "grows" is a single-syllable word.
/ɡroʊz/
/ɡ/: Voiced velar plosive (the 'g' sound, as in go)
/r/: Voiced alveolar approximant (the 'r' sound, as in red)
/oʊ/: Diphthong (the vowel sound, as in goat)
/z/: Voiced alveolar sibilant (the 'z' sound, as in zoo)
Word Form Variations
The term "grows" is the third-person singular simple present indicative form of the verb grow.
The primary word forms are:
Base/Infinitive: grow (e.g., to grow)
Third-person singular present: grows (e.g., it grows)
Present Participle: growing (e.g., it is growing)
Simple Past: grew (e.g., it grew)
Past Participle: grown (e.g., it has grown)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1 (Intransitive: increase in size, develop)
Grows (Third-person singular present of grow): To experience an organic process of natural development by increasing in size, maturity, or complexity over time, such as with plants, animals, or ideas.
Synonyms: thrives, matures, expands, develops, sprouts
Antonyms: shrinks, dwindles, withers, decays, lessens
Definition 2 (Transitive: cause to cultivate)
Grows (Third-person singular present of grow): To cultivate or cause something to increase, develop, or come into existence, often used in the context of agriculture or fostering a trait or business.
Synonyms: raises, cultivates, nurtures, fosters, establishes
Antonyms: neglects, destroys, uproots, minimizes, curtails
Definition 3 (Intransitive: become)
Grows (Third-person singular present of grow): To gradually transition into a different state or condition; to become increasingly adjective.
Synonyms: becomes, turns, gets, waxes (archaic/literary)
Antonyms: remains, stays, ceases (to be)
Examples of Use
1. Business and Economics (Online Publications/Newspapers)
Financial Reporting: "Amazon's cloud-computing unit, AWS, grows at a faster rate than expected, signaling continued dominance in the enterprise sector."
Market Analysis: "As demand for electric vehicles grows, manufacturers are scrambling to secure long-term contracts for lithium and cobalt." (Reuters, March 2024)
Startups: "The company's subscriber base consistently grows month-over-month, prompting the CEO to seek a Series B funding round."
2. Science and Agriculture (Books/News)
Biology/Plant Life: "Rice grows best in tropical or subtropical regions where the plants have access to ample water and sunshine."
Ecology: "The invasive species rapidly grows and outcompetes native flora, creating monocultures that threaten local biodiversity." (The Guardian, January 2024)
Medicine: "When a tumor grows and presses against surrounding tissue, it can cause pain and disrupt organ function."
3. Entertainment and Media (Books/Online Platforms)
Literature/Fiction: "The hero’s conviction grows stronger with every challenge he faces, setting the stage for the final confrontation." (From The Gilded Cage by E. V. Evans, 2023)
Streaming/Reviews: "The tension in the new thriller series grows steadily from a slow burn into a gripping, inescapable conclusion by episode five." (Variety, February 2024)
Music Commentary: "Her influence on modern pop music grows with each passing year, cementing her legacy as a true innovator."
4. General Public Discourse
Personal Development: "Confidence grows not from easy wins but from facing difficult situations and successfully navigating them."
Social Commentary: "Public frustration with the rising cost of living grows across urban areas, prompting calls for immediate government intervention."
Idiomatic Use: "The distance between them grows wider as they spend less time communicating."
10 Famous Quotes Using Grows
A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. (Greek Proverb)
The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection. (Thomas Paine)
Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. (Mao Zedong)
Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. (Saint Augustine)
It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up. (Muhammad Ali)
The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years. (Audrey Hepburn)
The only thing that grows is the thing we give energy to. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies, but grows to the enduring happiness that the love of gardening gives. (Gertrude Jekyll)
Happiness grows at our own firesides, and is not to be picked in strangers' gardens. (Douglas William Jerrold)
The only way to retain love is to give it away, because love grows by giving. (Elbert Hubbard)
Etymology
The word "grows" is the present tense form of the verb grow, and its history is quite ancient, going all the way back to the roots of the English language.
Old English Core: The story begins in Old English (before 1066 AD) with the verb grōwan. This original form already had the basic meaning we use today: "to flourish," "to increase in size," "to develop," or "to spring up." It was specifically used for things like plants and hair.
Germanic Ancestry: The Old English grōwan traces its roots back to the ancient Proto-Germanic language, to a reconstructed word like grōaną. Words related to it are found across various Germanic languages, such as the Old Norse word gróa (which also meant "to grow"). This shows the concept of increasing size and development was shared and very fundamental to these early languages.
The Shift to Modern English: Over time, particularly as English transitioned through the Middle English period, the vowel and the ending of the verb changed, but the core meaning remained the same. The form "grows" specifically emerged later to denote the third-person singular (he/she/it does this), replacing older endings like -eth (e.g., groweth).
First Known Use and Meaning
First Known Use (Meaning): The core meaning of "to develop in size and increase in bulk," especially concerning plants and vegetation, is the original and first known meaning in Old English.
Context: Early uses often describe nature: things "springing forth" from the earth. The metaphorical sense—where a feeling or idea "grows"—developed later, but is still very old.
In summary, the word "grows" is just the modern, conjugated form of a verb that has been in continuous use for over a thousand years, always meaning to increase, flourish, and develop, starting with the simplest observation of plants pushing up from the ground.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Grows
Common Phrases & Idioms Using "Grows"
A society grows great...
Meaning: A common paraphrase of the Greek Proverb, meaning a community's success is measured by its long-term, selfless investments. (e.g., "A society grows great when old men plant trees...")
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Meaning: Being away from someone or something for a period of time increases one's love or desire for it.
The plot thickens (or The mystery grows).
Meaning: The situation or narrative is becoming more complicated, interesting, or mysterious.
Love grows by giving.
Meaning: Love is strengthened and increased through acts of generosity and selflessness.
Ignorance grows by inches.
Meaning: A concept that ignorance accumulates slowly and subtly, often unnoticed, but eventually becomes substantial.
Phrases Using "Grow" (The Base Verb) for Similar Effect
Grow a backbone.
Meaning: To develop courage, firmness, or strength of character.
Grow on someone.
Meaning: To become more liked or appreciated over time (e.g., "The strange song grows on me.").
Grow into (something).
Meaning: To mature and develop the ability, size, or knowledge needed for something (e.g., "He needs time to grow into the role.").
To grow long in the tooth.
Meaning: To become old; often implies being too old for a particular activity or job. (The base verb is used in the infinitive phrase).
Grow by leaps and bounds.
Meaning: To increase, improve, or develop very rapidly. (e.g., "The town grows by leaps and bounds.")
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of grows from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
