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grow out of

B1 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words

When you get too big for your clothes, or when you stop doing something because you've grown up and don't need it anymore.

Literal meaning: To grow until you are outside of something — you literally grow beyond its boundaries.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To become too large to wear or use something — especially clothing.

"He grew out of his school uniform so fast that they had to buy a new one every six months."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 idiomatic neutral

To stop a habit, interest, or behavior as a natural result of growing older and maturing.

"Most kids grow out of their fear of the dark by the time they're teenagers."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral

To originate or develop from something else as a result or consequence.

"The entire business grew out of a simple idea she had while commuting on the train."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Used in two common contexts: physical (outgrowing clothing) and behavioral (outgrowing habits, fears, or childish things). Also used for things that originate or develop from something else ('the project grew out of a casual conversation'). All three senses are frequent.

Commonly used with

clothes habit fear phase idea conversation

Forms

Base
grow out of
I/you/we/they
3rd person
grows out of
he/she/it
Past simple
grew out of
yesterday
Past participle
grown out of
have + pp
-ing form
growing out of
continuous

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Synonyms

outgrow mature beyond leave behind emerge from originate in

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