What does regrowing mean?
Regrowing is the present participle of regrow, meaning to grow again after something has been cut, damaged, removed, or depleted. It is used both as an action: “The grass is regrowing,” and attributively: “regrowing hair.” The word commonly describes vegetation recovering after mowing, fire, grazing, or other disturbance, but it can also refer to biological regeneration, such as hair or tissue growing again. In horticulture and agriculture, regrowing may describe plants producing new shoots or roots after cutting or damage. Although regrowing often carries a hopeful connotation of renewal and recovery, it does not guarantee complete restoration: regrowth depends on the survival of the underlying roots, bulbs, follicles, or other living structures. In general use, the word is vivid because it presents growth as a renewed process rather than a single, original event.
To grow again after being cut, damaged, removed, or otherwise diminished.
"The fern is regrowing after the gardener divided its root system."
This is the normal verbal use of the present participle.
Describing something that is in the process of growing again.
"The patient was regrowing her hair after treatment."
This attributive use commonly occurs in phrases such as regrowing hair and regrowing vegetation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does regrowing come from?
Regrowing combines the Latin-derived prefix re-, meaning “again,” with the English verb grow. The prefix re- was widely used in English during the Early Modern period to form verbs expressing repetition, while grow ultimately derives from Old English growan. The present-participle form regrowing developed by adding the standard English ending -ing to regrow. Its formation is transparent, and the word shares its root with grow, grown, growth, and grower.
Related word forms
How regrowing is actually used
Regrowing is a present participle used as a verb or as an adjective before a noun. It is neutral in register and used similarly in British and American English.