grow up

/ɡroʊ ʌp/
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To become an adult as one matures over time.

Examples

  • Come on, grow up, we're not kids anymore.
  • It's time you grow up and take responsibility for your actions.
  • By the time he turned thirty, he had grown up and started a family.
  • Hey, grow up and stop throwing tantrums.
  • They hope their children grow up to be kind and honest.

Similar words

become an adult
act your age
behave responsibly
mature
be mature
age

Meanings

Become an adult

everyday
neutral
To develop from a child into an adult, gaining adult abilities and responsibilities.

Examples

  • She grew up on a farm and loved the open fields.
  • They hope their children grow up to be kind and honest.
  • By the time he turned thirty, he had grown up and started a family.
  • In the future, I will grow up and move to the city.
  • Even though he grows up quickly, he still enjoys cartoons.

Similar words

Behave more maturely

social
informal
Used to tell someone to stop acting childish and act in a more adult way.

Examples

  • Hey, grow up and stop throwing tantrums.
  • You need to grow up and think about your future.
  • It's time you grow up and take responsibility for your actions.
  • Come on, grow up, we're not kids anymore.
  • If you grow up, you'll see that gossip is pointless.

Similar words

Etymology

A fixed expression built from ordinary words whose combination has become conventional.

FAQ

What does grow up mean?

It means that grow up is to become an adult as one matures over time.

How is grow up used to describe becoming an adult?

It refers to grow up as developing from a child into an adult, gaining adult abilities and responsibilities.

What is the difference between grow up and mature?

Grow up describes the whole process of changing from a child to an adult, while mature often refers to reaching a certain level of development or behavior.

How can I tell someone to grow up in an informal way?

You can say “grow up” to ask them to stop acting childish and act in a more adult way.

What are common synonyms for grow up when it means to become an adult?

Common synonyms include mature, age, and become an adult.

In what contexts is grow up used informally to tell someone to act more maturely?

It is used in social situations when grow up is said to someone who is behaving childish and needs to behave responsibly.

Is grow up considered formal or informal?

The phrase grow up is neutral in everyday language when meaning to become an adult, but it is informal when used to tell someone to behave more maturely.

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