What Does “Grow out of sth” Mean?
“Grow out of sth” means to become too big for something, especially clothes, or to stop doing or liking something as you get older.
Introduction
The phrase “grow out of sth” is a common phrasal verb in English. It has two main meanings. First, it can describe when someone becomes physically too large to use or wear something, like clothes or shoes. Second, it can mean that a person changes their interests or habits as they mature or get older. Understanding the “grow out of sth meaning” helps learners use it naturally in everyday conversations. This phrasal verb is useful because it often describes personal growth or change, which happens to everyone. Knowing how to use “grow out of sth” properly will improve your speaking and writing skills.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: grow out of something
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: become too big for something or stop liking something as you grow
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Grow out of sth” is a transitive phrasal verb, so it needs an object.
- Subject + grow out of + object
- Examples:
- She grew out of her old shoes.
- He grew out of playing video games.
This phrasal verb is inseparable. You cannot put the object between “grow” and “out of”.
How to Use “Grow out of sth”?
You use “grow out of sth” when talking about physical growth or changing interests. For example, children often grow out of clothes as they get taller. Also, people can grow out of habits, hobbies, or behaviors they had when they were younger. It is common to use this phrase in everyday conversations, especially when talking about personal development or changes in taste.
Examples
Here are some sentences using “grow out of sth” in different contexts:
- My son has grown out of his winter coat; we need to buy a bigger one.
- She grew out of her fear of dogs after spending time with friendly pets.
- Many teenagers grow out of their rebellious phase as they mature.
- He grew out of playing soccer and started focusing on music instead.
- They grew out of their old habits and became more responsible.
These examples show how “grow out of sth in a sentence” can describe both physical and emotional growth.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners use “grow out of sth” incorrectly. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: I grow out of my shoes last year.
Correct: I grew out of my shoes last year. - Incorrect: She is growing out of video games now.
Correct: She is growing out of playing video games now. - Incorrect: He grow out of his bad habits.
Correct: He grew out of his bad habits.
Remember to use the correct tense and keep the object after “grow out of.”
Differences / Synonyms
“Grow out of sth” is similar to some other phrases but has unique uses. For example, “give up” means to stop doing something by choice, while “grow out of” implies a natural change over time.
- Give up: I gave up smoking. (Stopped intentionally)
- Grow out of: I grew out of smoking. (Stopped as part of growing up)
Another similar phrase is “outgrow,” which is often used in the same way but is less common in spoken English.
Common Collocations
“Grow out of” often pairs with these objects:
- Clothes: shirts, shoes, jackets (meaning: become too small for them)
- Habits: bad habits, fears, hobbies (meaning: stop having or liking them)
- Phases: rebellious phase, childish behavior (meaning: stop being in that phase)
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of grow out of sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “grow out of sth”:
Anna: Your jacket looks small on you!
Ben: Yeah, I’ve grown out of it. I need a bigger size now.
Anna: Same here. I grew out of my winter boots last month.
Ben: Growing up means we need new clothes all the time!
Practice
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
- When I was a child, I loved cartoons, but now I have _______ them.
- a) grown out of
- b) gave up
- c) grow out
- She has _______ her old shoes because they are too small.
- a) grew out of
- b) grow out of
- c) grown out of
FAQs
- What does “grow out of sth” mean?
It means to become too big for something or stop liking something as you grow older.
- Is “grow out of” separable?
No, it is inseparable. The object always comes after “grow out of.”
- Can “grow out of” be used for habits?
Yes, it can describe stopping habits or behaviors naturally over time.
- What is the past tense of “grow out of”?
The past tense is “grew out of.”
- Is “outgrow” the same as “grow out of”?
They have similar meanings, but “grow out of” is more common in everyday speech.
