outgrow

verb

out·​grow ˌau̇t-ˈgrō How to pronounce outgrow (audio)
outgrew ˌau̇t-ˈgrü How to pronounce outgrow (audio) ; outgrown ˌau̇t-ˈgrōn How to pronounce outgrow (audio) ; outgrowing

transitive verb

1
: to grow or increase faster than
… mankind is outgrowing food supplies.—R. C. Murphy
2
: to grow too large or too mature for
outgrew his best suit
the need to outgrow the habit of war—Norman Cousins

Examples of outgrow in a Sentence

Kids outgrow their clothes so quickly. The plant has outgrown my garden. Our business is outgrowing its small office building. She's outgrown most of her toys. I realized that I had outgrown my old high school friends.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The company outgrew its Santa Monica office and is now located near Culver Theater. — Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 Skis, boots, helmets, jackets, and other equipment can add up quickly, especially when kids outgrow their gear from one season to the next. — Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 Young children can rapidly outgrow dosages for important medications or miss the chance to manage a condition with physical therapy before needing surgery. — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026 The Times soon outgrew its home, which by then had begun to earn its status as a platform for display. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for outgrow

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of outgrow was in 1597

Rhymes for outgrow

See All Rhymes for outgrow

Browse Nearby Words

out-group
outgrow
outgrowth
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Outgrow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outgrow. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

outgrow

verb
out·​grow (ˈ)au̇t-ˈgrō How to pronounce outgrow (audio)
outgrew -ˈgrü How to pronounce outgrow (audio) ; outgrown -ˈgrōn How to pronounce outgrow (audio) ; outgrowing
1
: to grow faster than
2
: to grow too large or too mature for
outgrew their clothes
outgrow playing with dolls
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