burgeon
Americanverb (used without object)
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to grow or develop quickly; flourish.
The town burgeoned into a city. He burgeoned into a fine actor.
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to be brimming or filled to bursting; abound (usually followed by with).
All the new students are burgeoning with energy and potential. The kitchen drawers were burgeoning with tea towels.
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to begin to grow, as a bud; put forth buds, shoots, etc., as a plant (often followed byout, forth ).
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
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(of a plant) to sprout (buds)
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(intr; often foll by forth or out) to develop or grow rapidly; flourish
noun
Usage
The two senses of burgeon, “to bud” ( The maples are burgeoning ) and “to grow or flourish” ( The suburbs around the city have been burgeoning under the impact of commercial growth ), date from the 14th century. Today the sense “to grow or flourish” is the more common. Occasionally, objections are raised to the use of this sense, perhaps because of its popularity in journalistic writing.
Etymology
Origin of burgeon
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English noun burjon, burion “shoot, bud,” from Anglo-French burjun, burg(e)on; Old French burjon, from unattested Vulgar Latin burriōne(m), accusative of unattested burriō, derivative of Late Latin burra “wool, fluff“ ( bourrée, bureau ), presumably from the down covering certain buds; verb derivative of the noun
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.
It’s why Redick’s got a plan to help this community rebuild, a foundation that will start with the rec center and burgeon into a lifeline for public facilities around Southern California.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2025
But dengue and Zika could burgeon in a warmer world.
From Science Magazine • Sep. 25, 2023
As a result, the second joey, after it is born and has grown in the pouch, will be exiting the pouch around the time that spring grasses burgeon, when there is plenty to eat.
From New York Times • Mar. 2, 2020
The season’s traditions burgeon with messages of brotherhood and good will.
From Washington Times • Dec. 23, 2019
See those shoots how they burgeon and swell.
From Short Studies on Great Subjects by Froude, James Anthony
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.
