flourish

American  

[flur-ish, fluhr-] / ˈflɜr ɪʃ, ˈflʌr- /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

Related Words

See succeed.

Other Word Forms

• flourisher
  noun
• outflourish
  verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of flourish

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

Explanation

A flourish is an extra touch — a trumpet's "ta-ta-da!" announcing a king's entrance, a fancy carving atop an otherwise utilitarian pillar, a wave of a flag or a cheerleader's pompom. Flourish can also mean "growth": "With the right teacher, a child will flourish." To understand how the two meanings of flourish connect, remember that the word "flower" (spelled flour-) is hiding inside it. Flowers are used for decoration and ornamentation, but they also grow. Get it? Good for you! Imagine a cheerleader shouting out your name, flourishing her pom-poms.

Example Sentences

Sarah Skelton is the co-founder and managing director of Flourish, a recruitment firm for the sales industry.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2026

"It's only a deal if it’s something you genuinely wanted or needed before seeing the discount," said Sarah Johnson, director of merchandise consultancy Flourish Retail.

From BBC • Nov. 27, 2024

Thomas has worked with an organization called Flourish Collective to provide medical care to people in Haiti.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 19, 2023

The Flourish programme was provided to Catholic primary schools in the Republic of Ireland in 2021 and has now been adapted for primaries in Northern Ireland.

From BBC • May 19, 2022

“Mum, d’you honestly think You-Know-Who’s going to be hiding behind a bookshelf in Flourish and Blotts?” sniggered Ron.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

Related Words

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