blossom
noun
the flower of a plant, especially of one producing an edible fruit.
blossom
1 American
[blos-uhm]
/ ˈblɒs əm /
noun
Botany.
-
blossoms
plural
-
the flower of a plant, especially of one producing an edible fruit.
-
the state of flowering.
The apple tree is in blossom.
verb (used without object)
-
blossoms,
present (3rd person singular)
-
blossomed,
past participle, past
-
blossoming
present participle
Blossom
2
American
[blos-uhm]
/ ˈblɒs əm /
noun
blossom
British
/ ˈblɒsəm /
noun
-
the flower or flowers of a plant, esp conspicuous flowers producing edible fruit
-
the time or period of flowering (esp in the phrases in blossom, in full blossom )
verb
-
(of plants) to come into flower
-
to develop or come to a promising stage
youth had blossomed into maturity
Usage
What does blossom mean? In botany, a blossom is the flower of a plant, normally in its early stages and often referring to a flower that becomes edible fruit, such as apple and cherry blossoms. In botanical terms, a blossom is a flower that is attached to an edible fruit, such as a tomato blossom, or plant that is known for a product that is not the flower, like a cactus. Blossom also refers to the state of flowering, as in Washington, DC, looks lovely when all the cherry trees are in blossom. To blossom means to produce blossoms. When a plant is blossoming, it has produced flower buds that are in the process of producing petals and opening. Figuratively, to blossom means to flourish or to begin to succeed or develop. If someone tells you that you are blossoming into a good student, they mean you are getting better at your schoolwork or completing your schoolwork. Example: The cherry blossoms unfolding are always the best part of April.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
blossomingnoun
-
outblossomverb (used with object)
-
reblossomverb (used without object)
-
blossomlessadjective
-
blossomyadjective
-
unblossomedadjective
-
unblossomingadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
blossomsimple
-
blossomssimple
-
have blossomedperfect
-
has blossomedperfect
-
am blossomingprogressive
-
are blossomingprogressive
-
is blossomingprogressive
-
have been blossomingperfect progressive
-
has been blossomingperfect progressive
Past
-
blossomedsimple
-
had blossomedperfect
-
was blossomingprogressive
-
were blossomingprogressive
-
had been blossomingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of blossom
First recorded before 900; Middle English noun blosme, blossem, Old English blōstm(a), blōsma “flower”; cognate with Middle Dutch bloesem, Middle Low German blosem, blossem; see bloom 1, blow 3
Explanation
The flowering part of a plant or tree that will form the seeds or fruit is called a blossom and synonyms include bloom and flower. The noun can also refer to the state of such flowering. You shouldn't miss cherry blossom time in Washington, D.C. As a verb, blossom means to produce flowers. Your favorite time of year may be spring, when all the trees blossom and the air is perfumed with their scent. The verb blossom also means to begin to flourish and develop. If you are a teenager, you might be waiting to blossom and feel confident in your personality and grow into your gangly limbs.
Vocabulary lists containing blossom
The Vernal Vocabulary of Spring
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Words from Shakespearean Insults
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Song of Wandering Aengus" by W.B. Yeats
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
"We may be rooted in different realities, but together we rise through cooperation and blossom for humanity," he said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 2026
Instead, she’s tinkering with the idea that Chicago might be her second city, a place where her artistic talents can fully blossom in a smaller market.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
The tall stems of daisies bend above the delicate petals of peonies on a Raspberry Yogurt Basil Cake; a single nasturtium blossom tops an Earl Grey Butterfly Pea Ginger Mini Cake.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
"There's a lack of understanding on how they should behave... on how they could help their child to blossom into the athlete that they should become."
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
And Aragorn planted the new tree in the court by the fountain, and swiftly and gladly it began to grow; and when the month of June entered in it was laden with blossom.
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
The founder and chief executive of AI health startup Blossom was tired of moving around.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026
Graphic designer and fellow Blossom contributor Maya Kubota, 28, said that she appreciates people liking Japan and wanting to visit.
From Barron's ● Mar. 24, 2026
Taylor Swift’s sky may be opalite, but the starry blue hues in the new jewels of Louis Vuitton’s Color Blossom collection belong to sodalite.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 3, 2026
The puppies, named Maple, Ash, Chestnut, Acorn and Blossom, are coming on "literally in leaps and bounds", she said.
From BBC ● Jan. 1, 2026
Herold spotted a familiar-looking landmark: Blossom Point, at the mouth of a creek that ran north.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
Our first epiphany came five days in, after we broke camp under cherry blossoms above Cape Muroto, Shikoku’s southeast tip.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
They say diamonds are forever, but in her hands, plumeria blooms and cactus blossoms can be too.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
"Cherry blossoms there are in flower now with the main spectacular rhododendron display to follow."
From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2026
"Just as cherry blossoms bloom when spring approaches, the Miyako Odori is a spring tradition in Kyoto," Kyoko Sugiura, head of the Yasaka Nyokoba Gakuen, a school for geishas in Kyoto's Gion district, told AFP.
From Barron's ● Apr. 3, 2026
We found Mr. Govind beating his fists against the wall and moaning, “They have sent jasmine blossoms instead of marigolds! We will be short for the wedding!”
From "Homeless Bird" by Gloria Whelan
And their romance blossomed in the same place their friendship had years earlier.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
It blossomed later on a trip to Tokyo, as they emerged from a subway.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
A notion that blossomed from an idealistic vision was Martinized into a cult-like excursion for the privileged.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
Henderson blossomed in six years under the tutelage of Carlisle's coaching staff and Manchester United signed him in 2015 at the age of 14.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
But now my professional network and my opportunity to be a real agent for change had truly blossomed.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Fears that biopiracy might take a chunk out of the blossoming market, meanwhile, have prompted the government to announce a ban on the export of the raw form of the yam.
From Barron's ● Oct. 6, 2026
For now, England have a blossoming four-man pace quartet that has drawn comparisons with the famous Ashes winners of 2005.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
As winter gave way to spring, I tracked the almost hourly change in blossoming trees beyond the fences, grateful to see the physical manifestation of new beginnings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
Ji-Na and Fatima’s love story — its blossoming, its unraveling, its possible resuscitation — forms the heart of “The Little Sister,” which also received the Queer Palm at Cannes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026
Vincent's painting flourishes with the warm weather, growing and changing as Arles fills with blossoming trees.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
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.
