grow up

To change from being a child to being an adult.

• Children grow up quickly.
• I grew up in a small town near the sea.
• What did you want to do when you grew up?

How to use it: grow up in somewhere (She grew up in a small village.); grow up with someone (I grew up with three brothers.)

Similar words: become an adult, mature

Common phrases: grow up in somewhere, grow up together, grow up with someone

To stop behaving like a child and act more sensibly.

• You need to grow up.
• He finally grew up and started taking responsibility.
• Will you ever grow up and stop blaming everyone else?

Similar words: mature, act your age

Common phrases: grow up a little, grow up and change

To begin to exist and become established over time.

• A town grew up around the port.
• New traditions have grown up over the years.
• An entire industry grew up to meet that demand.

How to use it: grow up around something (A community grew up around the factory.)

Similar words: develop, emerge, arise

Common phrases: grow up around something, traditions grow up

Said to tell someone that their behavior is childish and they should act more sensibly.

• Grow up! That joke isn’t funny.
• Oh, grow up and stop teasing her.
• Grow up, Dan! You’re old enough to know better.

Similar words: act your age

Common phrases: grow up please, oh grow up