blooming

[ bloo-ming ]

adjective

1. in bloom; flowering; blossoming.
2. glowing, as with youthful vigor and freshness:

   blooming cheeks.

3. flourishing; prospering:

   a blooming business.

4. Chiefly British Slang. (used as an intensifier):

   He's got his blooming nerve.

adverb

1. Chiefly British Slang. (used as an intensifier):

   not blooming likely.

blooming

/ ˈbluːmɪŋ /

adverb

1. informal.
   (intensifier)

   blooming painful

   a blooming genius

Other Words From

• blooming·ly adverb
• blooming·ness noun
• non·blooming adjective noun
• pre·blooming adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blooming¹

1350–1400; Middle English; bloom ¹, -ing ²; as intensifier, a euphemism for bloody, by phonetic similarity

Word History and Origins

Origin of blooming¹

C19: euphemistic for bloody

Example Sentences

While QLED offers some improvement over traditional LED, it doesn’t always mitigate this blooming, and the contrasts between light and dark are not as stark as with some other technologies.

From Popular-Science

Cantils form when that transition from stockpiling to blooming is postponed, as the plant keeps growing while waiting for the flowering signal, the researchers found.

From Science News

As I studied up about the odd species, I discovered that its once-in-a-decade bloomings are complex processes that take up to two days to complete.

From Fortune

With lights flashing, the cruiser arrived at the Blooming Grove State Police barracks in Pike County.

From The Daily Beast

Frein was lodged in a holding cell at Blooming Grove barracks.

From The Daily Beast

Flowers are blooming, love is in the air, and hopefulness abounds for one and all.

From The Daily Beast

Except will it lead to the blooming a few years hence of a new marital theory of Sex and Substance Overload?

From The Daily Beast

I pictured this vibrant arts community in this democratic, blooming Middle East.

From The Daily Beast

Again she was buxom and blooming, one whose hand you would take instead of offering an arm.

From Project Gutenberg

At the farm-gate they met Dorothy, fresh and blooming as a rose, with a pail in each hand foaming to the brim with milk.

From Project Gutenberg

She was interrupted by the entrance of a fine tall blooming girl of eighteen, holding in her hand a pretty little maid of five.

From Project Gutenberg

Gwynne's disapproval vanished as he shook hands with the blooming young matron and met her bright laughing eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

During the reign of Theodore the Bishop of Ephesus found them there, blooming like roses.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• budding
• flourishing