Ask Difference

Grow vs. Thrive — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 11, 2024
Grow and thrive both describe positive changes, but growing is simply increasing in size or number, while thriving suggests flourishing or doing very well.
Grow vs. Thrive — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Grow and Thrive

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Key Differences

Grow typically refers to an increase in size, quantity, or physical development. It is a fundamental process that denotes expansion or getting larger over time, often used in the context of living organisms like plants, animals, and humans. For example, children grow taller and stronger as they age, and plants grow larger from seedlings to full maturity. On the other hand, thrive extends beyond mere growth, implying a vigorous and healthy development. Thriving often encompasses not just physical growth but also success, prosperity, and overall well-being. It suggests an organism or entity is not only growing but flourishing and doing exceptionally well in its environment.
While growth can occur under standard conditions, thriving usually indicates optimal conditions that promote well-being. A plant may grow in suboptimal conditions with enough water and sunlight, whereas thriving plants exhibit vibrant colors, strong stems, and abundant blooms, indicating superior health and vigor. Similarly, a business that grows might simply be expanding in terms of size or revenue, while a thriving business is likely innovating, capturing significant market share, and maintaining high levels of employee satisfaction and customer loyalty.
Growth can be quantitative and easily measured, such as in height, weight, or financial terms. In contrast, thriving often includes qualitative aspects, such as health, happiness, or quality of life, making it more subjective and multifaceted. For instance, measuring a child's growth is straightforward through metrics like height and weight, whereas assessing whether a child is thriving might consider emotional well-being, social skills, and intellectual development.
The concept of growth is often seen as a stage or phase within the broader process of thriving. An entity must grow to thrive, but not all growth indicates that an entity is thriving. For example, a company might grow by increasing its number of employees, but if this expansion leads to organizational issues and employee dissatisfaction, the company would not be considered to be thriving.
Growth can sometimes occur at the expense of others or the environment, such as invasive species that grow rapidly and outcompete native species. Conversely, thriving ecosystems are characterized by balance, diversity, and resilience, indicating not just growth but a harmonious and sustainable state of flourishing.
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Comparison Chart

Definition

Increase in size, quantity, or physical development
Vigorous and healthy development, flourishing

Indicators

Size, number, expansion
Health, vigor, success, well-being

Conditions

Standard conditions
Optimal conditions

Measurement

Quantitative (e.g., height, weight, revenue)
Qualitative and quantitative (e.g., happiness, health)

Ecological Impact

Can be neutral or negative
Generally positive, indicates balance and sustainability

Compare with Definitions

Grow

To increase in size over time.
The sapling grew into a towering oak within years.

Thrive

To prosper or flourish.
The well-watered and fertilized plants thrived in the greenhouse.

Grow

To develop and mature.
As he grew older, he became more reflective.

Thrive

To grow vigorously or healthily.
Children thrive in a loving and supportive environment.

Grow

To cultivate or cause to increase.
They decided to grow their own vegetables in the backyard.

Thrive

To bloom or show richness.
The thriving garden became the envy of the neighborhood.

Grow

To progress in a particular aspect.
She grew in confidence after the speech.

Thrive

To be successful or make steady progress.
The tech startup thrived in a competitive market.

Grow

To expand or become larger.
The company grew rapidly due to successful product launches.

Thrive

To achieve success or well-being.
He thrived in his new role as a manager.

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

Thrive

To grow vigorously; flourish
Some plants thrive in sandy soil.

Grow

Become larger or greater over a period of time; increase
Turnover grew to more than $100,000 within three years

Thrive

(of a child, animal, or plant) grow or develop well or vigorously
The new baby thrived

Grow

Become gradually or increasingly
Sharing our experiences we grew braver

Thrive

To be successful or make steady progress; prosper
The town has been thriving on tourism.

Grow

To increase in size by a natural process.

Thrive

To grow or increase stature; to grow vigorously or luxuriantly, to flourish.
Not all animals thrive well in captivity.
To thrive upon hard work

Grow

To expand; gain
The business grew under new owners.

Thrive

To increase in wealth or success; to prosper, be profitable.
Since expanding in June, the business has really thrived.

Grow

To increase in amount or degree; intensify
The suspense grew.

Thrive

To prosper by industry, economy, and good management of property; to increase in goods and estate; as, a farmer thrives by good husbandry.
Diligence and humility is the way to thrive in the riches of the understanding, as well as in gold.

Grow

To develop and reach maturity.

Thrive

To prosper in any business; to have increase or success.
O son, why sit we here, each other viewingIdly, while Satan, our great author, thrives?
And so she throve and prospered.

Grow

To be capable of growth; thrive
A plant that grows in shade.

Thrive

To increase in bulk or stature; to grow vigorously or luxuriantly, as a plant; to flourish; as, young cattle thrive in rich pastures; trees thrive in a good soil.

Grow

To become attached by or as if by the process of growth
Tree trunks that had grown together.

Thrive

Grow stronger;
The economy was booming

Grow

To come into existence from a source; spring up
Love that grew from friendship.

Thrive

Gain in wealth

Grow

To come to be by a gradual process or by degrees; become
Grow angry.
Grow closer.

Grow

To cause to grow; raise
Grow tulips.

Grow

To allow (something) to develop or increase by a natural process
Grow a beard.

Grow

Usage Problem To cause to increase or expand by concerted effort
Strategies that grew the family business.

Grow

(ergative) To become larger, to increase in magnitude.
Children grow quickly.

Grow

To undergo growth; to be present somewhere
Apples now grow all over the world.

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.

Grow

(intransitive) To develop, to mature.
As I grew throughout adolescence, I came to appreciate many things about human nature.

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?

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.

Grow

To become attached or fixed; to adhere.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Grow

To cause to grow; to cultivate; to produce; as, to grow a crop; to grow wheat, hops, or tobacco.

Grow

Pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become;
The weather turned nasty
She grew angry

Grow

Become larger, greater, or bigger; expand or gain;
The problem grew too large for me
Her business grew fast

Grow

Increase in size by natural process;
Corn doesn't grow here
In these forests, mushrooms grow under the trees

Grow

Cause to grow or develop;
He grows vegetables in his backyard

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

Common Curiosities

Can businesses both grow and thrive?

Yes, businesses can both grow and thrive if they expand while also maintaining success, innovation, and employee and customer satisfaction.

Are thriving conditions the same for all organisms?

No, thriving conditions vary widely among organisms, depending on their specific needs and environments.

Is thriving always related to physical growth?

No, thriving can also relate to success, well-being, and overall prosperity, not just physical growth.

How do you measure thriving?

Thriving is measured through a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors, including physical health, happiness, success, and well-being.

Can something thrive temporarily?

Yes, something can thrive temporarily in optimal conditions but may cease to thrive if conditions change or challenges arise.

Can something grow without thriving?

Yes, something can grow without thriving if it increases in size or quantity but doesn't necessarily flourish or maintain health and vigor.

Can thriving occur without growth?

Thriving typically involves some form of growth, but it can also mean maintaining a healthy, balanced, and successful state without physical expansion.

How do children show they are thriving?

Children show they are thriving through physical health, emotional and social well-being, and cognitive development.

Can a plant grow but not thrive?

Yes, a plant can grow in size but may not thrive if it lacks vigor, health, or the ability to reproduce successfully.

Can an environment grow?

An environment can grow in terms of biodiversity or richness, but this term is more commonly used to describe the organisms within it rather than the environment itself.

Can an entire ecosystem thrive?

Yes, an entire ecosystem can thrive when it exhibits balance, biodiversity, resilience, and sustainability.

Is thriving the same as being successful?

Thriving includes being successful but also encompasses overall well-being and health.

How do you encourage thriving?

Encouraging thriving involves providing optimal conditions, support, and resources for health, well-being, and success.

What role does environment play in growing and thriving?

The environment plays a crucial role in both growing and thriving by providing the necessary conditions for development and well-being.

Can growth be negative?

Growth can be perceived as negative in certain contexts, such as when it leads to undesirable outcomes like environmental degradation.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.

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