blushing

American  

[bluhsh-ing] / ˈblʌʃ ɪŋ /

adjective

1. reddening, as from embarrassment or self-consciousness.

   All eyes were on the blushing bride—the star of the evening!

   At the mayor’s request, they serenaded the blushing councilor with a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

2. feeling or showing embarrassment or self-consciousness.

   The author plows ahead with a disarmingly blushing work about trying to embrace her queer identity, her marriage, and motherhood simultaneously.

3. rosy, as the sky, flowers, etc..

   This chocolate Valentine cake is delicious—and the blushing raspberry frosting is the perfect pink.

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Other Word Forms

• blushingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of blushing

First recorded in 1560–70; blush ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

In “Ready or Not,” Weaving’s blushing bride-to-be, Grace, discovers that she’s marrying into a family of devil-worshippers who sold their souls for eternal wealth, and they must sacrifice her to keep the money rolling in.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

A gallery blushing in a deep wine color, with the theme of “Leisure and Labor in the American Metropolis,” is almost ready.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 1, 2025

“If we give $20,000 to charity, and get half a million followers, I’ll conduct a reveal,” he told me, laughing and blushing.

From Slate • Dec. 17, 2024

Milica Nikolić, a developmental psychologist from the university’s Institute for Child Development and Education and lead author on the study, had already investigated blushing as a physiological measure of young children’s emotions in social settings.

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2024

“No. Absolutely not,” I say, although I’m pretty sure I’d be blushing if my face weren’t already ground beef.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen