grow up

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

to develop from childhood into adulthood, acquiring the emotional maturity, practical competence, and sense of responsibility associated with adult life; also used as an imperative to tell someone to stop behaving in an immature, petty, or childish way; the phrase can carry warmth when describing a child's development or sharpness when directed at an adult whose behaviour is considered beneath their years; in developmental discourse, the pressures and timelines attached to growing up are understood to be deeply shaped by cultural expectations, economic circumstances, and family structure