flourish

[flur-ish, fluhr-]

verb (used without object)

1. to be in a vigorous state; thrive.

   a period in which art flourished.

   Synonyms: increase, grow
   Antonyms: decline, fade

2. to be in its or in one's prime; be at the height of fame, excellence, influence, etc.

3. to be successful; prosper.

4. to grow luxuriantly, or thrive in growth, as a plant.

5. to make dramatic, sweeping gestures.

   Flourish more when you act out the king's great death scene.

6. to add embellishments and ornamental lines to writing, letters, etc.

7. to sound a trumpet call or fanfare.

verb (used with object)

1. to brandish dramatically; gesticulate with.

   a conductor flourishing his baton for the crescendo.

2. to decorate or embellish (writing, a page of script, etc.) with sweeping or fanciful curves or lines.

   Synonyms: ornament

noun

1. an act or instance of brandishing.

2. an ostentatious display.

3. a decoration or embellishment, especially in writing.

   He added a few flourishes to his signature.

   Synonyms: adornment, ornament

4. Rhetoric.,  a parade of fine language; an expression used merely for effect.

5. a trumpet call or fanfare.

6. a condition or period of thriving.

   in full flourish.

flourish

/ ˈflʌrɪʃ /

verb

1. (intr) to thrive; prosper

2. (intr) to be at the peak of condition

3. (intr) to be healthy

   plants flourish in the light

4. to wave or cause to wave in the air with sweeping strokes

5. to display or make a display

6. to play (a fanfare, etc) on a musical instrument

7. (intr) to embellish writing, characters, etc, with ornamental strokes

8. to add decorations or embellishments to (speech or writing)

9. (intr) an obsolete word for blossom

noun

1. the act of waving or brandishing

2. a showy gesture

   he entered with a flourish

3. an ornamental embellishment in writing

4. a display of ornamental language or speech

5. a grandiose passage of music

6. an ostentatious display or parade

7. obsolete

   1. the state of flourishing

   2. the state of flowering

Other Word Forms

• flourisher noun
• outflourish verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of flourish¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English florisshen, from Middle French floriss-, long stem of florir, ultimately from Latin flōrēre “to bloom,” derivative of flōs flower

Word History and Origins

Origin of flourish¹

C13: from Old French florir , ultimately from Latin flōrēre to flower, from flōs a flower

Synonym Study

See succeed.

Example Sentences

The album is peppered with little flourishes like that - and it's supremely satisfying.

From BBC

She was also learning how to balance being a mother for the first time and her newfound, flourishing career.

From Los Angeles Times

She had stayed in touch with school friends from Sweden where she had flourished, winning prizes for ice-skating.

From BBC

Mahan has two small children and a wife who’s flourishing in her career as an educator.

From Los Angeles Times

Thus, with a flourish, Pynchon types fin to his secret 20th century.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bloom 
• blossom 
• boom 
• develop 
• do well 
• expand 
• multiply 
• succeed 
• thrive