How to Use Grew or Grown (Explained, With Examples)

First published on March 6, 2023 by Dalia Y.|Last revised on October 20, 2024

The past tense of grow is grew. The past participle is grown, as in, 'They have grown so much since we last saw them!'

How to Use Grew or Grown (Explained, With Examples)

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What's the past tense of "grow"?

The past tense of grow is grew. The past participle is grown. This is an irregular verb with three distinct forms.

Definition of grow

Grow means to increase in size, number, strength, or quality, or to develop and mature.

  • The past tense of grow is grew.
  • The present or past perfect).

Verb forms of 'grow'

I/you/they grow • He/she/it grows
I/you/they grew • He/she/it grew
I/you/they will grow • He/she/it will grow
I am/you are growing • He/she/it is growing
I was/you were growing • He/she/it was growing
I/you will be growing • He/she/it will be growing
I/you have grown • He/she/it has grown
I/you had grown • He/she/it had grown
I/you will have grown • He/she/it will have grown
I have been growing • He/she/it has been growing
I had been growing • He/she/it had been growing
I will have been growing • He/she/it will have been growing

Is "grow" a regular or irregular verb?

It's irregular. The past tense grew and past participle grown don't follow the regular -ed pattern. This is a three-form irregular verb like "give/gave/given" or "sing/sang/sung".

When to use grew vs. grown

Simple past: "The company profits grew by 5% last year."

Past participle: "The children have grown so much since we last saw them."

Use grew for simple past tense and grown as a present or past perfect).

Sentence examples: grow, grew, grown

Grow (present tense)

• Plants grow faster in warm weather.

• The business grows steadily each year.

• Children grow quickly during their teenage years.

Grew (past simple)

• The tree grew to 20 feet tall.

• Her confidence grew with each success.

• The population grew rapidly in the 1990s.

Grown (present or past perfect)

• The flowers have grown beautifully this season.

• He has grown tired of the routine.

• The company had grown too large to manage.

Synonyms & nearby words

Synonyms for grow

develop expand increase mature

Nearby phrases

grow up grow on grow apart

FAQs

What is the past tense of grow?
The past tense of grow is grew.
What is the past participle of grow?
The past participle of grow is grown.
Is grow a regular verb?
No, grow is an irregular verb. It has three forms: grow, grew, grown.

Sources

  1. Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of grow." Online Etymology Dictionary. Accessed 15 Oct 2025.

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