grow on

become more liked by someone over time

C1

What does "grow on sb" mean?

To say that something 'grows on' you means that you did not particularly like or appreciate it at first, but over time — often without even noticing — you found yourself enjoying it more and more. The process is typically slow and unconscious: nobody decides to start liking something; it simply happens gradually. The subject is almost always a thing — a piece of music, a film, a city, a dish, a style — though it can occasionally refer to a person becoming more likeable over time. A defining feature of this phrasal verb is the contrast it implies between an initial lukewarm or negative reaction and a later, warmer appreciation. It is particularly at home in casual conversation and personal writing, especially in reviews or anecdotes about changing tastes.

Examples

How to use it

thing + grow on + person (pronoun)

The most common pattern by far — a personal pronoun follows 'on', and the subject is the thing being appreciated.

The album didn't impress me at first, but it's really grown on me.

thing + grow on + person (noun phrase)

Used when referring to a specific person or group rather than using a pronoun.

The new manager's dry sense of humour slowly grew on the whole team.

present perfect: thing + have/has + grown on + person

The present perfect is especially natural because it conveys a completed change in feeling that still holds true now.

I wasn't sure about moving to Edinburgh, but it's genuinely grown on me since I arrived.

past simple: thing + grew on + person

Used when describing a past shift in appreciation, often paired with an initial negative reaction.

I didn't like the architectural style of the building at first, but it grew on me after a few weeks.

person + grow on + person (to describe a person becoming more likeable)

Less common, but natural when talking about a person — not a thing — gradually becoming more appealing to someone.

She came across as quite aloof when we first met, but she grew on me over time.

Common Collocations

grow on megrow on youat firstover timenew music/film/placean acquired taste

Common Mistakes

Attempting to separate the verb and particle

Unlike some phrasal verbs, 'grow on' cannot be separated. The object must always come after 'on', never between 'grow' and 'on'.

✗ The song really grew me on after a few listens.
✓ The song really grew on me after a few listens.
Using it without a personal object after 'on'

'Grow on' always requires a person as the object of 'on' — it cannot be used without one. Dropping the object leaves the sentence incomplete and unnatural.

✗ I didn't like the film at first, but it grew on.
✓ I didn't like the film at first, but it grew on me.
Confusing 'grow on' with 'grow into'

'Grow into' describes a person developing to fit a role, responsibility, or item; 'grow on' describes something becoming more appealing to a person over time. The two are not interchangeable.

✗ She grew into me — I think she's really likeable now.
✓ She grew on me — I think she's really likeable now.

Usage

This PV is neutral and works in both spoken and written English. It almost always appears with a personal pronoun after 'on' (me, you, him, etc.) and is very commonly used in the present perfect: 'It's really grown on me.'

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'grow on' be used in the passive, like 'I was grown on by the music'?

No — this phrasal verb does not work in the passive. Because the person experiencing the gradual appreciation is the object of 'on' rather than the grammatical subject of 'grow', passivisation produces an unnatural and incorrect structure. Always use the active form with the thing or person as the subject.

Can I say 'it is growing on me' in the present continuous?

It's grammatically possible but quite uncommon in practice. English speakers strongly prefer the present perfect ('it has grown on me') to describe this kind of gradual change, as it signals a shift that has already taken effect. The present continuous can occasionally work if you want to suggest the process is still actively happening, but even then it sounds slightly unusual.

Does 'grow on' always refer to things, or can it describe a person becoming more likeable?

It most commonly refers to things — music, places, food, films, styles — but it can absolutely refer to a person. Saying 'she's grown on me' is perfectly natural and means you have come to find someone more likeable or enjoyable to be around over time.

Is there a difference between 'it grew on me' and 'it has grown on me'?

Both are correct, but the present perfect ('it has grown on me') is more common because it emphasises that the change in feeling is complete and still relevant now. The past simple ('it grew on me') is more narrative and typically used when telling a story set in the past, often with a clear time reference.

Can 'grow on' refer to something that happened very quickly?

Not naturally. The core meaning of 'grow on' carries a strong implication of gradualness — the shift in appreciation happens slowly, often without the person noticing. If the change of feeling was quick or deliberate, 'warm to' would be a better fit. Using 'grow on' for an instant reaction would sound odd to a native speaker.

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