blush

American  

[bluhsh] / blʌʃ /

verb (used without object)

1. to redden, as from self-consciousness, embarrassment, or shame.

   He blushed when they called him a conquering hero.

   Synonyms:

   color, flush

   Antonyms:

   blanch, pale

2. to feel shame or embarrassment (often followed by at orfor ).

   Your behavior makes me blush for your poor mother.

3. (of the sky, flowers, etc.) to become rosy.

4. (of house paint or lacquer) to become cloudy or dull through moisture or excessive evaporation of solvents.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make red; flush.

2. to make known by a blush.

   She could not help blushing the truth.

noun

1. a reddening, as of the face.

2. rosy or pinkish tinge.

3. Also called blush-on.  Also called blusher,.  a cosmetic used to add a pink or reddish color to the cheeks.

4. Also called blush wine.  rosé.

idioms

1. at first blush, without previous knowledge or adequate consideration; at first glance.

   At first blush, the solution to the problem seemed simple enough.

blush British  

/ blʌʃ /

verb

1. (intr) to become suddenly red in the face from embarrassment, shame, modesty, or guilt; redden

2. to make or become reddish or rosy

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noun

1. a sudden reddening of the face from embarrassment, shame, modesty, or guilt

2. a rosy glow

   the blush of a peach

3. a reddish or pinkish tinge

4. a cloudy area on the surface of freshly applied gloss paint

5. when first seen; as a first impression

blush More Idioms  

1. see at first blush.

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Other Word Forms

• blushful adjective
• blushfully adverb
• blushfulness noun
• blushing noun
• blushingly adverb
• blushless adjective
• outblush verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of blush

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English verb blushen, blyshen “to glow,” probably from Old English blyscan “to glow brightly, glow red”; akin to Old English blysa, blisa, Old Norse blys, Middle Low German blus “torch,” bloschen “to blaze”; noun derived from the verb

Example Sentences

But then there’s something out of that, that are those magical moments that you can’t re-create that are captured on screen and then you blush — Renate does that so beautifully.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

Some managers of SPVs, knowing they’re among the few ways to buy into coveted pre-IPO companies, charge fees that would make a bandit blush.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

His show provided an antidote to the chilly Parisian air, with Middle Eastern warmth recreated through a colour palette of blush pinks, bronzes and desert tones.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

At first blush, the storm did less damage to the electric grid than feared.

From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026

Anya suppressed a blush and opened the pouch.

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack