B1noun1K

Growth

UK /["/ɡrəʊθ/"]/US /["/ɡrəʊθ/"]/

Definition

the process in people, animals or plants of growing physically, mentally or emotionally

In simple words: The process of getting bigger or increasing.

Examples

  • The economic growth of the country has been steady over the last decade.
  • Personal growth often involves a lot of self-reflection and learning.
  • We are discussing the growth of plants in this biology class.
  • Many companies are looking for ways to encourage growth in their employees.
  • The rapid growth of technology has changed our daily lives significantly.

Usage notes

Used in contexts like business, personal development, and biology. Avoid using it in very informal situations. Commonly paired with 'economic growth' or 'personal growth'.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of a plant growing tall to remember 'growth'.

Collocations

  • healthy
  • normal
  • abnormal
  • encourage
  • stimulate
  • inhibit
  • hormone
  • defect
  • spurt
  • considerable
  • exponential
  • significant
  • achieve
  • experience
  • maintain
  • rate
  • potential
  • prospects
  • growth in
  • a rate of growth
  • considerable
  • exponential
  • significant
  • achieve
  • experience
  • maintain
  • rate
  • potential
  • prospects
  • growth in
  • a rate of growth
  • cancerous
  • malignant
  • benign
  • have
  • growth on

Synonyms

  • expansion
  • development
  • increase
  • advancement
  • improvement

Antonyms

  • decline
  • decrease
  • reduction

Common mistakes

  • 'Growth' is often confused with 'groth' when pronounced by non-native speakers.
  • Some learners mistakenly use 'growth' in contexts where 'growing' (the action) is more appropriate.
  • Confusion between 'growth' and 'increase'; 'growth' refers to a process, while 'increase' is a state.