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Prepositions after verbs

Grow in, by, at, to, or into?

Grow combines with several prepositions, each with a different meaning. Into and to are especially common for change and development.

Quick answer

Different prepositions express different kinds of growth

Use grow into for gradual change, grow to for reaching a size or feeling, grow by for an amount of increase, and grow in for size, skill, or area. Grow at is uncommon directly after grow and usually belongs to a separate place expression.

The puppy will grow into a large dog.
Sales grew by ten percent.
She has grown to love the city.
The company grew in confidence after the merger.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
grow into + role/state

Gradual development or change

Into shows transformation over time.

He grew into an excellent leader.
2
grow to + size/feeling

Reaching a level or developing a feeling

To can express a final size, number, or emotional change.

The town grew to half a million residents.
I grew to appreciate her advice.
3
grow by + amount

Showing the amount of increase

By introduces the difference or increase.

Profits grew by 12 percent last year.
4
grow in + quality/area

Increasing within a quality or field

In often refers to development in skill, confidence, size, or influence.

She grew in confidence during the course.
5
grow at + place/rate

Using at in separate expressions

At is not a common complement directly after grow, but it can introduce a place or rate expression.

Tomatoes grow at high altitudes in this region.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
grow into
The child grew into a confident adult.
Transformation or development over time.
grow to
The business grew to 200 employees.
Reaching a size, number, or feeling.
grow by
The population grew by 5 percent.
Amount of increase.
grow in
He grew in experience and skill.
Development within a quality or area.
grow at
Corn grows at lower temperatures here.
At introduces conditions or place, not a main verb-preposition pattern.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using into for numerical increase

Use to for reaching a number or size.

✕ The company grew into 500 workers. ✓ The company grew to 500 workers.

Using by for transformation

By expresses amount, not change into a new state.

✕ She grew by a strong leader. ✓ She grew into a strong leader.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The startup grew ___ a global company.
2. Revenue grew ___ 15 percent this year.
3. I grew ___ enjoy classical music.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between grow into and grow to?

Grow into describes transformation, while grow to describes reaching a size, number, or feeling.

Can I say grow in confidence?

Yes. Grow in is natural for qualities such as confidence, skill, or importance.

Is grow at correct?

Sometimes, but usually as part of a place or rate expression rather than a fixed pattern after grow.

gain, from, gain, by "gamble on" or "gamble with"? "gasp for" or "gasp in"? "gather in" or "gather at"? "gaze at" or "gaze into"? generate by, from, in, for or at? get to, into, in, out or on? giggle at, to, about, like or with? "give to", "give in" or "give by"? glance at, through, around, over or in? glare at, from, after, before or in? glean from, by, in, at or for?

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