outgrow
gb/ˌaʊtɡɹˈoʊ/ us/ˌaʊtɡɹˈoʊ/
B1
English
kinő, túlnő
VERB
B1
1
kinő
B1
Usage pattern:
outgrow [clothes/shoes]
She outgrew her school uniform halfway through the year.
A tanév felénél kinőtte az iskolai egyenruháját.
Most toddlers outgrow their shoes every few months.
A legtöbb tipegő néhány havonta kinövi a cipőjét.
I’ve outgrown my winter coat, so I need a new one.
Learner examples
My son outgrew his shoes.
A fiam kinőtte a cipőjét.
I outgrew my old jacket.
Kinőttem a régi dzsekimet.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with “grow up” (become an adult). “Outgrow” is about becoming too big or moving past something.
Meaning
become too big for clothes
Collocations
outgrow your clothes
|outgrow your shoes
|outgrow a jacket
|outgrow a coat
|outgrow a uniform
|outgrow a dress
|outgrow a pair of boots
|quickly outgrow
|already outgrown
|kids outgrow
Synonyms
grow out of (Common alternative phrasing, especially in the pattern “grow out of your clothes.”)
|
become too big for (More literal and descriptive; less idiomatic than “outgrow.”)
Antonyms
fit (Opposite result: the clothing is the right size.)
|
grow into (Become big enough for something that was previously too large.)
Themes
daily_life
|clothing
|family
Definition
To grow and make your clothes too small.
To grow so that a piece of clothing no longer fits because it is too small.
VERB
B2
2
kinő
B1
Usage pattern:
outgrow [a phase/habit/interest]
He outgrew the superhero phase and started reading mysteries.
Kinőtte a szuperhősös korszakát, és krimiket kezdett olvasni.
With practice, she outgrew her fear of speaking in public.
A gyakorlásnak köszönhetően kinőtte a nyilvános beszédtől való félelmét.
I thought I’d outgrown video games, but I still enjoy them sometimes.
Learner examples
She outgrew her old hobby.
Kinőtte a régi hobbiját.
He outgrew his bad habits.
Kinőtte a rossz szokásait.
Common mistake:
“Outgrow” usually implies a natural change with age or maturity; it’s less often used for sudden decisions.
Meaning
stop liking or doing something
Collocations
outgrow a phase
|outgrow a habit
|outgrow an obsession
|outgrow childish behavior
|outgrow your shyness
|outgrow your fear
|outgrow old ideas
|outgrow your tastes
|outgrow your interest in
|outgrow the idea of
Synonyms
grow out of (Very close in meaning; often interchangeable in this sense.)
|
move on from (Emphasizes changing focus rather than maturing past something.)
|
leave behind (More deliberate-sounding than “outgrow.”)
Antonyms
cling to (Continue to hold onto an interest or habit instead of moving past it.)
|
take up (Begin a new habit or interest rather than leaving one behind.)
Themes
personal_development
|emotions
|relationships
|education
Definition
To change so you don’t like or do something anymore.
To develop beyond an interest, habit, or behavior so that you no longer enjoy it or do it.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
outgrow [a house/office/capacity]
The team outgrew their small office and moved to a larger space.
A csapat kinőtte a kis irodáját, és nagyobb helyre költözött.
The town has outgrown its public transport system.
A város már kinőtte a tömegközlekedési rendszerét.
We’ve outgrown this apartment since the baby was born.
Learner examples
The company outgrew its office.
A cég kinőtte az irodáját.
We outgrew our house.
Kinőttük a házunkat.
Common mistake:
This sense is about size/capacity, not about boredom (meaning 2). Context usually involves space, resources, or limits.
Meaning
become too big for a place
Collocations
outgrow a house
|outgrow an apartment
|outgrow an office
|outgrow the space
|outgrow its facilities
|outgrow capacity
|outgrow the current setup
|outgrow a building
|outgrow the classroom
|outgrow the system
Synonyms
outstrip (More formal; focuses on demand or growth surpassing supply or capacity.)
|
exceed (More general and formal; less vivid than “outgrow.”)
Antonyms
fit (Be small enough to be accommodated by the place or capacity.)
|
downsize (Actively reduce size or needs so the space is sufficient again.)
Themes
business
|work
|housing
|planning
Definition
To become too big for a place or system.
To become too large or successful for a place, organization, or arrangement to accommodate.
VERB
B2
4
kinő
B1
Usage pattern:
outgrow [an allergy/condition]
Some children outgrow their peanut allergy, but many don’t.
Néhány gyerek kinövi a földimogyoró-allergiáját, de sokan nem.
The doctor said he may outgrow the condition by adolescence.
Az orvos azt mondta, hogy serdülőkorára kinőheti ezt az állapotot.
She outgrew her childhood asthma and rarely wheezes now.
Learner examples
He outgrew his allergy.
Kinőtte az allergiáját.
Many kids outgrow eczema.
Sok gyerek kinövi az ekcémát.
Common mistake:
Often used for childhood conditions; it doesn’t mean the illness physically becomes smaller.
Meaning
stop having an illness
Collocations
outgrow an allergy
|outgrow asthma
|outgrow eczema
|outgrow lactose intolerance
|outgrow a sensitivity
|outgrow a condition
|outgrow the problem
|children outgrow
|likely to outgrow
|outgrow symptoms
Synonyms
grow out of (Common alternative; very similar meaning in health contexts.)
Antonyms
develop (Begin to have a condition rather than losing it.)
|
come down with (Start being ill (typically for illnesses rather than allergies).)
Themes
health
|family
Definition
To stop having a health problem as you get older.
To stop having a condition, allergy, or problem as you get older.
VERB
C1
5
Usage pattern:
outgrow [someone/something]
As her career took off, she felt she had outgrown her old circle of friends.
Ahogy beindult a karrierje, úgy érezte, túlnőtt a régi baráti körén.
He outgrew the junior role within a year and was promoted.
Egy éven belül túlnőtt a junior szerepkörön, és előléptették.
The new software quickly outgrew the features of the older system.
Learner examples
He outgrew his old job.
Kinőtte a régi munkáját.
She outgrew her classmates in math.
Matematikából már túlnőtt az osztálytársai szintjén.
Common mistake:
This use can sound judgmental in relationships; speakers often soften it (e.g., “we grew apart”).
Meaning
become more mature than someone
Collocations
outgrow your friends
|outgrow your peers
|outgrow a mentor
|outgrow the competition
|outgrow your surroundings
|outgrow your role
|outgrow your environment
|outgrow your old life
|emotionally outgrow
|quickly outgrow
Synonyms
surpass (More neutral and direct; doesn’t imply a growth process over time as strongly.)
|
outpace (Emphasizes speed of progress rather than maturity.)
Antonyms
lag behind (Fail to progress as fast or as far as someone else.)
|
be on a par with (Remain at the same level rather than moving beyond.)
Themes
personal_development
|relationships
|work
Definition
To become more mature or advanced than someone or something.
To become more mature, skilled, or advanced than someone or something that once matched you.
Grammar
Dictionary form
outgrow
IPA
GB/ˌaʊtɡɹˈoʊ/
US/ˌaʊtɡɹˈoʊ/
Syllables & stress
out - grow (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (grow)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: outgrow
- 3rd Person Singular: outgrows
- Present Participle: outgrowing
- Past: outgrew
- Past Participle: outgrown
Word family
Expressions
outgrow your britches
1/ˌaʊtɡɹˈoʊ jˈʊɹ bɹˈɪt͡ʃɪz/
idiom
informal
act too important or proud
To become too proud and act superior.
Examples
- Ever since he got promoted, he’s been outgrowing his britches.
- Don’t outgrow your britches just because you won one award.
- She’s talented, but sometimes she outgrows her britches in meetings.
Learner examples
- He is outgrowing his britches.
outgrow your usefulness
1/ˌaʊtɡɹˈoʊ jˈʊɹ jˈusfəlnəs/
fixed phrase
become no longer useful
To stop being useful or needed.
Examples
- He worried that, after the merger, he might outgrow his usefulness to the company.
- Once the project was finished, the temporary team had outgrown its usefulness.
- The old process has outgrown its usefulness and needs to be replaced.
Learner examples
- This tool has outgrown its usefulness.