- present participle of bud.
budding
Britishadjective
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."
Vocabulary lists containing budding
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
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Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
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Mexican WhiteBoy
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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.
Every budding baker dreams of the Ankarsrum Assistent stand mixer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
It was not from envy of teams like the Dodgers with their cast of superstars-for-hire, but from envy of the teams showcasing their budding young homegrown stars.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026
A quarter-century before the hit film, former bond salesman and budding author Michael Lewis wrote a provocative piece of speculative fiction: “How a Tokyo Earthquake Could Devastate Wall Street.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
Qualcomm is still priced as a smartphone and wireless-technology company with budding aspirations in other segments.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026
Then, clearly, a thought occurred to Magister Spurge...that this must be one of those goblin insults that show budding friendship.
From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin
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.
