Quick answer: Grow often implies a natural, organic, or gradual process: The company has grown rapidly. Increase is more precise and measurable, often used with numbers: Sales increased by 15%. Both can overlap, but increase is preferred in academic and data contexts. For a fuller definition, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for ‘grow’.
Comparison Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Key sense | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| grow | verb (irregular: grew/grown) | become larger, develop naturally; cultivate | The population grew steadily. |
| increase | verb / noun (regular) | become or make greater in size, number, or amount | Prices increased by 5%. |
Using Grow
Grow is broader and more versatile. It can describe biological growth (plants, children), economic expansion, emotional development, or even cultivating crops. It often emphasises an organic, continuing process.
Children grow very quickly in their first year.
The startup has grown into a major tech company.
She grew tomatoes in her allotment.
Their friendship grew stronger over the years.
Grow + Adjective (Become)
Grow can be used as a linking verb meaning “become”: The weather grew colder. / He grew impatient. Increase cannot be used this way.
Using Increase
Increase is more precise and is particularly common in academic, scientific, and economic contexts. It is always used for measurable quantities and can be transitive (make something larger) or intransitive (become larger).
The government plans to increase the minimum wage.
Road accidents increased by 12% last year.
Exercise can increase your energy levels.
There has been a significant increase in demand.
Increase as a Noun
Increase is also commonly used as a noun: an increase in crime / a 10% increase. Grow does not have this noun use (use growth instead).
Common Mistakes
✗ Sales grew by 15%. (natural but slightly informal)
✓ Sales increased by 15%. (preferred in formal/academic writing)
Note: both are correct, but increase is preferred in data contexts.
✗ The weather increased cold.
✓ The weather grew cold.
Note: only grow can be used as a linking verb meaning “become.”
✗ There was a grow in demand.
✓ There was an increase in demand. / There was growth in demand.
Also confusing: Rise vs Raise, Develop vs Improve, Full vs Complete. Browse all confusing word pairs →
Quick Check: Grow or Increase?
Four questions — choose the correct word for each sentence.
1. “The baby ___ very quickly in the first six months.”
2. “The government ___ taxes by 2% this year.”
3. “She ___ impatient as the delay dragged on.”
4. “There was a sharp ___ in the number of applications.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between grow and increase?
Grow often implies a natural, organic, or broad process of becoming larger or developing. Increase is more precise and measurable, typically used with numbers, percentages, and quantities. Both can be used for size, but increase is preferred in academic and data-driven contexts.
Can you grow taxes or prices?
In formal writing, increase is standard: “the government increased taxes.” Grow is occasionally used informally: “prices have grown,” but increase is more precise and natural with measurable quantities.
Can grow be used as a linking verb?
Yes. Grow can mean “become” before an adjective: “She grew tired.” / “He grew suspicious.” This pattern is common in both formal and literary English. Increase cannot be used this way.
What is the noun form of grow and increase?
The noun form of grow is growth: “economic growth,” “population growth.” Increase functions as both a verb and a noun: “a sharp increase in costs.” Growth is often preferred when the process is organic; increase when it is numerical.
Is grow irregular?
Yes. Grow is an irregular verb: grow → grew → grown. Increase is regular: increase → increased → increased. Both past participles are used with has/have in present perfect: “Prices have grown / increased.”
Can increase be transitive?
Yes. Increase can be transitive (to make something larger): “The company increased production.” Grow can also be transitive in the sense of cultivating: “She grew roses.” But grow is not used transitively to mean “increase production.”
What is the difference between grow up and increase?
Grow up refers specifically to a person or animal maturing from childhood to adulthood: “She grew up in Scotland.” Increase does not carry this meaning. Grow up is not interchangeable with increase.
How do grow and increase appear in IELTS Writing Task 1?
In IELTS Task 1 (graphs and charts), increase is the standard verb for upward trends: “Sales increased steadily.” Grow is also acceptable: “The number of users grew.” Using both demonstrates vocabulary range and is rewarded under Lexical Resource.
What is “growing concern”?
“Growing concern” is a fixed phrase meaning increasing worry or anxiety: “There is growing concern about air quality.” You would not say “increasing concern” — the collocation with grow is standard here.
Can I say “growingly” like “increasingly”?
No. “Growingly” is not standard English. The correct adverb is increasingly: “It is becoming increasingly difficult.” There is no equivalent adverb from grow in this sense.