noun

growth

GROHTH

Growth (noun) means an increase in size, amount or value over time. Example: “The company reported 12 per cent growth in the last quarter.”

noun

An increase in size, amount or value over time.

"The company reported 12 per cent growth in the last quarter."

"Rapid population growth has put pressure on housing."

The process by which a living thing gets bigger or develops.

"Warm weather triggers a burst of growth in the seedlings."

"Sleep matters most during periods of rapid growth in childhood."

medical A lump of abnormal tissue in or on the body.

"The vet removed a small growth from the dog's ear."

How to use growth

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGetting bigger, or the amount something has got bigger by.

When to use it

Neutral and very common in business and economics, where it is usually uncountable.

Memory tip

Uncountable in most senses ('there was little growth'), but countable in the medical sense ('two small growths').

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

development → expansion → inflation →

Common pairings

economic growth growth rate rapid growth personal growth growth in demand

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The company reported 12 per cent _____ in the last quarter.

Etymology

From the verb grow, of Germanic origin, with the noun-forming suffix -th as in width and depth.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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increase expansion rise development maturation tumour lump swelling

Antonyms

decline contraction shrinkage

Related words

development higher fall increase accept grow rise progress

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between growth and development?

Growth is about quantity: something becomes larger or there is more of it. Development is about quality and structure: something becomes more complex, capable or mature. An economy can grow without developing if output rises while institutions and living standards do not.

What does 'growth' mean in business?

Usually an increase in a headline figure such as revenue, customers or profit, measured against an earlier period. Because the base matters, always check what is being compared: 30 per cent growth on a tiny starting figure is not the same achievement as 30 per cent on a large one.

What is the meaning of growth?

"growth" (noun) means an increase in size, amount or value over time.

What is another word for growth?

Other words for "growth" include increase, expansion, rise, development, maturation, tumour.

People also searched

development higher fall increase accept grow rise progress