growth

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The process of becoming larger, more numerous, or more developed over time.

   Grammar: No plural for the general process; use a phrase like an increase for a specific amount.

   Patterns

   • steady growth
   • rapid growth in something
   • see or experience growth
   • support growth

   The plant showed clear growth after we moved it into brighter light.

   The town has seen steady growth in new housing over the past decade.

   Consistent practice supports growth in confidence and skill.

2. 2noununcountablebusinessfinance

   An increase in the production, income, or value of an economy, company, or market.

   Grammar: Usually uncountable: strong economic growth, not many economic growths.

   Patterns

   • economic growth
   • growth rate
   • annual growth
   • growth in sales or profits

   Economists expect slower growth next year because of higher interest rates.

   The company reported growth in online sales during the holiday season.

   Rising fuel costs can limit industrial growth.

3. 3noununcountable

   The development of a person's abilities, emotions, character, or maturity.

   Grammar: Uncountable and often modified: personal, emotional, or professional growth.

   Patterns

   • personal growth
   • emotional growth
   • room for growth
   • growth as a person

   The seminar encourages personal growth through honest feedback.

   Living in another country was part of her growth as a person.

   A good manager gives employees room for growth.

4. 4nouncountable

   A mass or area of something that has grown, such as hair, plants, or tissue covering a surface.

   Grammar: Countable; use plural growths for more than one: thick growths of ivy.

   Patterns

   • a thick growth of hair
   • a growth of ivy or weeds
   • a growth on a wall or rock

   A thick growth of ivy covered the old brick wall.

   He had a week's growth of stubble after the camping trip.

   The trail narrowed where a dense growth of ferns spread across the path.

5. 5nouncountablemedical

   An abnormal lump or mass of tissue in or on the body, which may be benign or cancerous.

   Grammar: Countable in medical use and often introduced with a: a small growth.

   Patterns

   • a growth on or in the body
   • remove a growth
   • test or monitor a growth
   • benign or malignant growth

   The biopsy showed that the growth was benign.

   She had surgery to remove a small growth from her thyroid.

   Doctors will monitor the growth for any changes in size.

6. 6noununcountablebiology

   The increase in size or number of cells, tissues, organisms, or a population during biological development.

   Grammar: Usually uncountable in biology; specific countable instances are more often called colonies or populations.

   Patterns

   • cell growth
   • population growth
   • growth and development
   • inhibit or promote growth

   The experiment measured the growth of bacteria over 24 hours.

   Crowding can slow the growth of seedlings in a garden bed.

   Warm temperatures and nutrients promoted rapid algal growth in the pond.

Word forms

Common combinations

economic growth

Policymakers discussed how to sustain economic growth without raising inflation.

personal growth

Keeping a journal helped him notice his personal growth over the year.

growth rate

The growth rate doubled after the company expanded delivery service.

rapid growth

Rapid growth in ridership led the city to add more buses.

population growth

The report links population growth to pressure on local water supplies.

growth spurt

During his growth spurt, he needed new shoes every few months.

Synonyms and how they differ

development

Broader than growth: it can mean gradual progress in skills, ideas, or products, not only getting bigger.

expansion

Suggests spreading out or extending, especially for businesses, cities, or territory, rather than internal maturation.

increase

Neutral word for a rise in amount or number; growth often implies a continuing process over time.

proliferation

A rapid multiplication, often too many cells, products, or messages; it can sound negative when control is lost.

Opposites

Word family

grow verb

To increase in size or develop; growth is the noun form.

growing adjective

Increasing or developing: a growing problem.

grown adjective

Fully developed or adult; also used in compounds like homegrown.

outgrowth noun

A natural development or result that grows from something else.

overgrowth noun

Excessive growth, used in medicine, biology, and gardening.

Commonly confused: growth or grow?

Practice

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