Grow vs. Shrink — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Grow and Shrink
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Grow
(of a living thing) undergo natural development by increasing in size and changing physically
He would watch Nick grow to manhood
Grown men don't act so stupidly
Shrink
To become or appear to become smaller
The shadows shrank as the sun rose higher. The mountains shrank in the distance as we drove away.
Grow
Become larger or greater over a period of time; increase
Turnover grew to more than $100,000 within three years
Shrink
To become smaller from exposure to heat, moisture, or cold
The sweater shrank in the wash.
Grow
Become gradually or increasingly
Sharing our experiences we grew braver
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Shrink
To become reduced in amount or value; dwindle
His savings quickly shrank. The market for that product has been shrinking.
Grow
To increase in size by a natural process.
Shrink
To move back or away, especially in fear
"She shrank back against the wall and flattened her palms against it" (Pearl S. Buck).
Grow
To expand; gain
The business grew under new owners.
Shrink
To show reluctance; hesitate
We should not shrink from making such a sacrifice.
Grow
To increase in amount or degree; intensify
The suspense grew.
Shrink
To cause to shrink
The treatment shrank the tumor.
Grow
To develop and reach maturity.
Shrink
The act of shrinking.
Grow
To be capable of growth; thrive
A plant that grows in shade.
Shrink
The degree to which something shrinks; shrinkage.
Grow
To become attached by or as if by the process of growth
Tree trunks that had grown together.
Shrink
(Slang) A psychotherapist.
Grow
To come into existence from a source; spring up
Love that grew from friendship.
Shrink
(transitive) To cause to become smaller.
The dryer shrank my sweater.
Grow
To come to be by a gradual process or by degrees; become
Grow angry.
Grow closer.
Shrink
(intransitive) To become smaller; to contract.
This garment will shrink when wet.
Grow
To cause to grow; raise
Grow tulips.
Shrink
(intransitive) To cower or flinch.
Molly shrank away from the blows of the whip.
Grow
To allow (something) to develop or increase by a natural process
Grow a beard.
Shrink
(transitive) To draw back; to withdraw.
Grow
Usage Problem To cause to increase or expand by concerted effort
Strategies that grew the family business.
Shrink
To withdraw or retire, as from danger.
Grow
(ergative) To become larger, to increase in magnitude.
Children grow quickly.
Shrink
(intransitive) To move back or away, especially because of fear or disgust.
Grow
To undergo growth; to be present somewhere
Apples now grow all over the world.
Shrink
Shrinkage; contraction; recoil.
Grow
(intransitive) To appear or sprout.
Leaf buds grew on the trees with the advance of spring.
A long tail began to grow from his backside.
Shrink
A psychiatrist or psychotherapist.
You need to see a shrink, you crazy fool.
My shrink said that he was an enabler, bad for me.
Grow
(intransitive) To develop, to mature.
As I grew throughout adolescence, I came to appreciate many things about human nature.
Shrink
Loss of inventory, for example due to shoplifting or not selling items before their expiration date.
Grow
(transitive) To cause or allow something to become bigger, especially to cultivate plants.
He grows peppers and squash each summer in his garden.
Have you ever grown your hair before?
Shrink
To wrinkle, bend, or curl; to shrivel; hence, to contract into a less extent or compass; to gather together; to become compacted.
And on a broken reed he still did stayHis feeble steps, which shrunk when hard thereon he lay.
I have not found that water, by mixture of ashes, will shrink or draw into less room.
Against this fire do I shrink up.
And shrink like parchment in consuming fire.
All the boards did shrink.
Grow
(copulative) To assume a condition or quality over time.
The boy grew wise as he matured.
The town grew smaller and smaller in the distance as we travelled.
You have grown strong.
Shrink
To withdraw or retire, as from danger; to decline action from fear; to recoil, as in fear, horror, or distress.
What happier natures shrink at with affright,The hard inhabitant contends is right.
They assisted us against the Thebans when you shrank from the task.
Grow
To become attached or fixed; to adhere.
Shrink
To express fear, horror, or pain by contracting the body, or part of it; to shudder; to quake.
Grow
To increase in size by a natural and organic process; to increase in bulk by the gradual assimilation of new matter into the living organism; - said of animals and vegetables and their organs.
Shrink
To cause to contract or shrink; as, to shrink finnel by imersing it in boiling water.
Grow
To increase in any way; to become larger and stronger; to be augmented; to advance; to extend; to wax; to accrue.
Winter began to grow fast on.
Even just the sum that I do owe to youIs growing to me by Antipholus.
Shrink
To draw back; to withdraw.
The Libyc Hammon shrinks his horn.
Grow
To spring up and come to maturity in a natural way; to be produced by vegetation; to thrive; to flourish; as, rice grows in warm countries.
Where law faileth, error groweth.
Shrink
The act shrinking; shrinkage; contraction; also, recoil; withdrawal.
Yet almost wish, with sudden shrink,That I had less to praise.
Grow
To pass from one state to another; to result as an effect from a cause; to become; as, to grow pale.
For his mindHad grown Suspicion's sanctuary.
Shrink
A psychiatrist.
Grow
To become attached or fixed; to adhere.
Our knees shall kneel till to the ground they grow.
These wars have grown out of commercial considerations.
Shrink
A physician who specializes in psychiatry
Grow
To cause to grow; to cultivate; to produce; as, to grow a crop; to grow wheat, hops, or tobacco.
Shrink
Wither, especially with a loss of moisture;
The fruit dried and shriveled
Grow
Pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become;
The weather turned nasty
She grew angry
Shrink
Draw back, as with fear or pain;
She flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf
Grow
Become larger, greater, or bigger; expand or gain;
The problem grew too large for me
Her business grew fast
Shrink
Reduce in size; reduce physically;
Hot water will shrink the sweater
Can you shrink this image?
Grow
Increase in size by natural process;
Corn doesn't grow here
In these forests, mushrooms grow under the trees
Shrink
Become smaller or draw together;
The fabric shrank
The balloon shrank
Grow
Cause to grow or develop;
He grows vegetables in his backyard
Shrink
Decrease in size, range, or extent;
His earnings shrank
My courage shrivelled when I saw the task before me
Grow
Develop and reach maturity; undergo maturation;
He matured fast
The child grew fast
Grow
Come into existence; take on form or shape;
A new religious movement originated in that country
A love that sprang up from friendship
The idea for the book grew out of a short story
An interesting phenomenon uprose
Grow
Cultivate by growing, often involving improvements by means of agricultural techniques;
The Bordeaux region produces great red wines
They produce good ham in Parma
We grow wheat here
We raise hogs here
Grow
Come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes);
He grew a beard
The patient developed abdominal pains
I got funny spots all over my body
Well-developed breasts
Grow
Grow emotionally or mature;
The child developed beautifully in her new kindergarten
When he spent a summer at camp, the boy grew noticeably and no longer showed some of his old adolescent behavior
Grow
Become attached by or as if by the process of growth;
The tree trunks had grown together
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