growth

An increase in size, number, value, or strength.

• Plants need water for growth.
• The town has seen rapid population growth.
• Sales growth slowed last year.

How to use it: growth in something (There has been growth in online sales.)

Similar words: increase, expansion

Opposites: decline, shrinkage

Common phrases: economic growth, population growth, rapid growth

Becoming mentally stronger and better able to deal with difficult experiences.

• The experience helped my personal growth.
• Therapy encouraged her emotional growth.
• Facing difficult choices can lead to growth.

Similar words: development, maturation

Common phrases: personal growth, emotional growth, growth through hardship

A mass of living material, such as plants, or an unusual lump in the body.

• The doctor examined the growth.
• A thick growth of weeds covered the path.
• They removed a small growth from her neck.

Similar words: mass

Common phrases: thick growth, growth of something, remove a growth