- present participle of flourish.
flourishing
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of flourishing
A Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at flourish, -ing 2
Explanation
When something is flourishing, it's healthy or successful. Your flourishing lemonade stand is especially busy on hot summer afternoons. A flourishing rose bush has glossy green leaves and bright blossoms, and a city's flourishing music scene means you can see live bands every weekend and hear many different types of music. This adjective is used today for anything that's thriving or prospering, but originally it meant "full of flowers," from the Latin root flos, "a flower."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They also brandished placards emblazoned with various messages playing on the company's name, such as "Berliners Axed, Shareholders Flourishing" and "Budget Above Staff Futures?"
From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026
At Harvard, the Human Flourishing Program, under the direction of Prof. Tyler VanderWeele, studies and promotes human well-being and fulfillment.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 30, 2025
Flourishing in the poor soil, rye fed people in colonial America, replenished land denigrated by tobacco growing and provided straw for animal bedding and for the manufacture of paper.
From Salon • Jan. 18, 2024
Flourishing among her fellow innovators and iconoclasts, Ms. Clayton led educational workshops with Jeanne Lee and performed with the pianist Muhal Richard Abrams at the Public Theater in 1979.
From New York Times • Jan. 12, 2024
Flourishing in reign of Elizabeth, but injured by over-regulation caused by selfish interests.
From The Influence and Development of English Gilds As Illustrated by the History of the Craft Gilds of Shrewsbury by Hibbert, Francis Aiden
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
