A plant or body part may produce new growth after some is lost.

The idea

Grow back means grow again after being cut or lost. It is common in everyday speech; the thing that returns is the subject: hair grows back. In this use there is no object to place between the words.

Examples

  • The grass will grow back.
  • Her hair grew back slowly.
  • The leaves grew back in spring.
  • Will the feathers grow back?
  • This plant can grow back after a cut.
  • The tree is growing back after the fire.

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Watch out

Do not say grow it back when the hair itself is the subject: say it grows back.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. The flowers ___ back last spring. (grew / grow)

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    grew

    grew is the past form for last spring.

  2. Choose the correct option. Will the fur grow ___? (back / away)

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    back

    back signals growth again.

  3. Choose the correct option. The grass ___ back each year. (grows / grow)

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    grows

    grows agrees with the singular subject.

Use it today

Describe something that can grow again after being cut.