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:
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
"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
Inevitable as Funches’ dismissal was, witnessing the quiet camaraderie blossom between him and Rausch was one of the kindest, warmest subplots of an especially ruthless season.
From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2026
“It’s in the spirit of giving my kids a chance to blossom, to thrive, to see what they can accomplish,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026
Who had looked at me, soft and fresh as a blossom, and decided to give me to the tide.
From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk
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
On special days, Maddie and her husband Michael often go to the baby loss garden at Broomfield Hospital, where they spent time with Teddy in the Blossom Suite, supported by bereavement midwives.
From BBC ● Mar. 15, 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
Dick, however, was choosy, and in bars his usual choice was an Orange Blossom.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
"Cherry blossoms there are in flower now with the main spectacular rhododendron display to follow."
From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2026
Even Troy, who treats Josh well, will complain about soggy squash blossoms from the club kitchen.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 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
It was spring, and I kept telling myself I would drive down to Washington one weekend to see the cherry blossoms.
From Slate ● Mar. 29, 2026
He and Glory gathered around the fire and ate a salad made of heirloom tomatoes and orange blossoms.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
It’s as if they blossomed for us out of gratitude.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
A notion that blossomed from an idealistic vision was Martinized into a cult-like excursion for the privileged.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
An article sparked an exchange on LinkedIn that blossomed into a romance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 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
A low bush nearby had blossomed in tiny gray balls.
From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare
From a lifeless strip of grass to a blossoming garden, Annadale Community Centre's grounds have received a glow up over the past year, becoming a "hidden gem" for all to enjoy.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
Hunter Bell is blossoming later in her career.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
At Garcia’s shows, she says she constantly meets concertgoers from L.A., or even from San Diego, who drive hours into the I.E. to be part of its blossoming scene.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026
The blossoming love affair between American fans and global soccer has not gone unrequited.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
He tried to point this out to Ron, but Ron was having trouble with his wand again; large purple bubbles were blossoming out of the end, and he wasn’t much interested in anything else.
From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling
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.
