Synonyms

budding

British

/ ˈbʌdɪŋ /

adjective

at an early stage of development but showing promise or potential

a budding genius

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

budding Scientific

/ bŭd′ĭng /

A form of asexual reproduction in living organisms in which new individuals form from outgrowths (buds) on the bodies of mature organisms. These outgrowths grow by means of mitotic cell division. Many simple multicellular animals such as hydras and unicellular organisms such as yeasts reproduce by budding.

Explanation

Something that is described as budding is growing brand new buds. A budding rose bush is getting ready to burst into bloom. If you are in a budding romance, it is also just about to burst into a new phase of excitement. Ooh la la. When a tree or flower is budding, it's showing signs of the branches and blossoms that will soon appear. The same is true of a person who's described as budding — if you're a budding filmmaker, you're new at making movies but already show great promise. Budding most likely comes from the Old French boter, "push forward or thrust."

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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.

Seo’s Janet is as feisty as she is loyal, making it easy to root for her and her quickly budding romance with McKnight’s worthy Alex.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

After Scotty’s death, Ledger became a staple in Diem’s life, and the budding romance with Kenna tangles everyone into a gnarled knot of low-stakes deception and drama.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

The “Gunpowder and Lead” singer hit the singing competition’s stage for the show’s “Iconic Women”-themed night, showcasing her singing before offering advice to the budding pop stars.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

To build their system, the researchers used the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, an organism widely used both in brewing and scientific research.

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

Him too I hate, the same as I hate these brainless budding trees, these brattling birds.

From "Grendel" by John Gardner

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023