Past tense of outgrow; to grow too large for something, or to mature beyond something you once enjoyed or needed.
From 'out-' (beyond) + 'grew' (past tense of grow). Old English 'growan.' The prefix usage became common to describe exceeding or surpassing something.
Kids outgrowing their clothes is adorable, but 'outgrowing' interests or people is bittersweet—the word perfectly captures that moment when you realize you're not the same person anymore, which is why it's used in psychology to describe how we move beyond childhood patterns and relationships.
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