grow apart

Meaning

This expression means to gradually become less close or friendly over time. It often happens because people develop different interests, lifestyles, or values as they mature, rather than because of a specific fight.

Examples

• As we got older, my childhood best friend and I slowly grew apart.

  As we got older, my childhood best friend and I slowly grew apart.

• They tried to save their marriage, but they had simply grown apart.

  They tried to save their marriage, but they had simply grown apart.

• It's sad when you realize you and your college friends are growing apart.

  It's sad when you realize you and your college friends are growing apart.

• We didn't argue; we just grew apart over the years.

  We didn't argue; we just grew apart over the years.

• Sometimes people grow apart because they want different things in life.

  Sometimes people grow apart because they want different things in life.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ They grew apart of each other.

  ✓ They grew apart from each other.

  Use the preposition 'from' if you want to mention the other person. Do not use 'of'.

• ✗ We grew separated after university.

  ✓ We grew apart after university.

  'Grew separated' is incorrect. 'Grow apart' is the natural idiom used to describe losing emotional closeness over time.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Over the years, the two brothers slowly ___ and stopped talking.

  💡 Became less close over time (past tense)

  Show answer

  grew apart

• It's normal for friends to ___ when they move to different cities.

  💡 Gradually become less close

  Show answer

  grow apart