grow apart — become less close
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutralcommon
To slowly lose a close relationship with someone, often because your lives or interests change.
Say it like a native
Textbook Over time, we became emotionally distant from each other.
Native We just grew apart over the years.
'Grow apart' gently captures a friendship fading. 'Became emotionally distant' is clinical.
Pattern: grow apart (from someone)
In use
- After moving to different cities, we started to grow apart and didn't talk as much.relationships
- I think it's common for people to grow apart from their friends when they go to university, because their lives change so much.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ My best friend and I grew apart from each other.
✓ My best friend and I grew apart.
'Grow apart' is intransitive and already mutual — don't add 'from each other'.
Common collocations
grow apart— over the years, slowly, gradually, since uni
Don't confuse it
Unlike 'break up', which means to end a relationship, 'grow apart' means to slowly lose closeness, but you might still be in contact.