In Appalachian and Southern speech, "growed" is the nonstandard past tense or past participle of "grow." It’s used to talk about someone or something having grown, especially children or crops.
I'd say 'growed' is mostly old timers, but I do hear it around.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I'd say 'growed' is mostly old timers, but I do hear it around.
Pronunciation
[GROHD]
Meaning & Usage
- Past tense/past participle of "grow" (dialect verb form)
Talking about a child
Mae:
He sure has growed since last summer.
Earl:
Yep - sprouted up like corn.
- Used in set phrases
Commenting on crops
Mae:
Them beans ain’t growed much yet.
variations: grown (standard form)
★ "Growed" is one of the most enduring Appalachian verb forms. It follows the same pattern as "brung," "knowed," and "drug," showing how dialects analogize irregular verbs. Writers often use "growed" in dialogue to give characters a rural Southern voice. ★
Origin and Etymology
Rooted in Middle English analogies and carried over in Scots-Irish dialect brought to the Appalachians. It’s been noted in Southern and Appalachian dialect studies since at least the late 1800s.
Usage Notes
Still common in rural speech and among older speakers. Younger Southerners often switch to "grown" in formal writing but still say "growed" casually.
It’s nonstandard in formal English but authentic in Southern/Appalachian speech.
Does it apply to all kinds of growth?
Yes - people, plants, or anything that "grew" can be said to have "growed."
Where do you hear it?
Throughout Appalachia and the rural South.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 20). Growed. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/growed
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Growed." HillbillySlang.com, 20 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/growed.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Growed." HillbillySlang.com. September 20, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/growed.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
I'd say 'growed' is mostly old timers, but I do hear it around.