Grow
/ɡroʊ/noun
To increase in size, number, or strength; to develop over time.
Did you know?English grow descends from a Proto-Germanic verb meaning “to grow” and is distantly related to a whole family of words across Germanic languages, showing how one ancient root kept the idea of living expansion alive for thousands of years.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰreh₁-
“to grow, become green”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*gro- / *grōaną
“to grow, flourish, become green”
Old English
OE
grōwan
“to grow, flourish, increase”
Middle English
ME
growen
“to grow, increase, thrive”
Modern English
English
grow
“to increase in size, number, or strength”