growth

growth — noun

1. the natural process by which a living thing becomes bigger, stronger, or more co

1.nounB1
Definition

the natural process by which a living thing becomes bigger, stronger, or more complex as time passes

Example

A balanced diet is essential for a child's healthy physical growth.

uncountable noun for the natural process

The gardener measured the growth of the tomato plants every week.

Common collocations
  • child growth
  • plant growth
  • hair growth
  • brain growth
  • growth spurt
  • growth hormone
Synonyms
  • development

    broader term that can include mental, emotional, or structural change, not just size

  • maturing

    focuses on reaching an adult or complete stage; more biological in tone

Antonyms
  • shrinkage

    a reduction in size, the physical opposite of growth

  • decay

    gradual breakdown of tissue, opposite of healthy development

Usage Note

This sense is uncountable and describes the ongoing process, not a finished result. Typical subjects include children, animals, plants, hair, nails, and brain tissue.

Common Mistakes

The growth of my son is getting taller.
My son is growing taller.
'growth' describes the process, not a person increasing height directly.

2. a situation in which something becomes larger in quantity, scale, or significanc

2.nounB2
Definition

a situation in which something becomes larger in quantity, scale, or significance — applied to areas such as company revenue, city population, or national economic activity

Example

The city has seen rapid population growth over the past decade.

collocation: population growth / economic growth / sales growth

Lakshmi's company achieved strong sales growth in the Asian market.

Common collocations
  • population growth
  • economic growth
  • sales growth
  • job growth
  • growth rate
  • growth industry
  • steady growth
  • rapid growth
Synonyms
  • increase

    more general, can apply to any measurable change; less formal in economic contexts

  • expansion

    suggests broadening in scope or territory, not just numbers

  • rise

    focuses on upward movement of a figure; common in graphs and reports

Antonyms
  • decline

    a downward trend in size, amount, or importance

  • reduction

    a deliberate or natural decrease; neutral in register

Usage Note

Common in business, economics, and social science contexts. As a countable singular noun ('a growth in…') it emphasises a specific instance of increase rather than the general trend.

Common Mistakes

There was growth of crime in the area.
There was a growth in crime in the area.
'a growth in' is the correct pattern for specific increases.
The economy experienced growths in several sectors.
The economy experienced growth in several sectors.
'growth' is usually uncountable; use 'a growth' (singular) not 'growths'.

3. an abnormal clump of biological tissue that develops inside or on a living organ

3.nounB2
Definition

an abnormal clump of biological tissue that develops inside or on a living organism as the result of illness, and may be either non-cancerous or cancerous

Example

The doctor found a small growth on Zola's lung during the scan.

medical context: growth on [body part]

Most skin growths are harmless, but some need to be removed.

countable plural: skin growths

Common collocations
  • benign growth
  • cancerous growth
  • abnormal growth
  • skin growth
  • tissue growth
Synonyms
  • tumour

    more precise medical term; implies a mass, often (but not always) abnormal

  • lump

    everyday word for any swelling; less clinical than 'growth'

Usage Note

When countable ('a growth' / 'growths'), it refers to a specific abnormal mass. When uncountable ('growth of tissue'), it refers to the process of abnormal cell proliferation. Medical professionals often specify 'benign' or 'malignant'.

Common Mistakes

I have growth on my arm.
I have a growth on my arm.
always use the article 'a' when referring to a specific lump.

4. any plant matter, moss, or other natural covering that has appeared and spread o

4.nounB1
Definition

any plant matter, moss, or other natural covering that has appeared and spread on a surface, such as ivy on a wall or new shoots on a bush after rain

Example

A thick green growth of moss covered the old stone wall.

pattern: a [adjective] growth of [plant type]

The gardener cleared the unwanted growth from the flower beds before planting new seeds.

Common collocations
  • new growth
  • dense growth
  • thick growth
  • unwanted growth
  • young growth
  • growth of moss
  • growth of ivy
Synonyms
  • vegetation

    broader, more formal term for plant life in general

  • foliage

    refers specifically to leaves; more literary in tone

Usage Note

Describes visible plant matter that has already grown, as opposed to the process of growing (sense 1). Often modified by adjectives such as 'new', 'dense', 'thick', or 'unwanted'.

Common Mistakes

There is a growth of grass in the garden.' (vague — all gardens have grass)
There was a thick growth of weeds along the fence.
use 'growth' for noticeable, often dense, vegetation.

Word family

  • grow
    verbA2
  • growing
    adjectiveB1
  • grown
    adjectiveB1
  • overgrowth
    nounC1
  • growths
    noun (plural)B2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words refer to something getting larger or more advanced, but they differ in scope and typical context. 'Growth' is the broadest — it can describe physical size (population growth), economic output (economic growth), or personal improvement (personal growth). 'Increase' is the most neutral and widely applicable to numbers or quantities (an increase in temperature), but it rarely describes complex organic or systemic change. 'Expansion' suggests a broadening of territory, scope, or capacity (expansion of a business into new markets) and implies a more active, intentional process. 'Rise' focuses on upward movement of a measurable figure (a rise in prices, a rise in unemployment) and is common in graphs and headlines. 'Development' emphasises progression through stages toward a more advanced state (urban development, child development) and often carries a positive or planned connotation. For example: a country experiences economic growth from trade, sees a rise in its GDP figures, pursues expansion into foreign markets, and invests in rural development to spread the benefits.

increase ↗expansion ↗rise ↗development ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • rate of growth
  • growth rate
  • growth spurt
  • growth phase

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishProto-GermanicEnglish

The noun 'growth' comes from the Old English word 'grōwan', meaning 'to grow, flourish, or increase'. It was formed by adding the suffix '-th' (which turns verbs into nouns showing a state or process, similar to 'length' from 'long' or 'strength' from 'strong'). The word has been used in English since before the 12th century, and its figurative or economic meanings developed gradually over the following centuries.