flourish

[flur-ish, fluhr-]

verb (used without object)

1. to be in a vigorous state; thrive.

   a period in which art flourished.

   Synonyms: increase, grow
   Antonyms: decline, fade

2. to be in its or in one's prime; be at the height of fame, excellence, influence, etc.

3. to be successful; prosper.

4. to grow luxuriantly, or thrive in growth, as a plant.

5. to make dramatic, sweeping gestures.

   Flourish more when you act out the king's great death scene.

6. to add embellishments and ornamental lines to writing, letters, etc.

7. to sound a trumpet call or fanfare.

verb (used with object)

1. to brandish dramatically; gesticulate with.

   a conductor flourishing his baton for the crescendo.

2. to decorate or embellish (writing, a page of script, etc.) with sweeping or fanciful curves or lines.

   Synonyms: ornament

noun

1. an act or instance of brandishing.

2. an ostentatious display.

3. a decoration or embellishment, especially in writing.

   He added a few flourishes to his signature.

   Synonyms: adornment, ornament

4. Rhetoric.,  a parade of fine language; an expression used merely for effect.

5. a trumpet call or fanfare.

6. a condition or period of thriving.

   in full flourish.

flourish

/ ˈflʌrɪʃ /

verb

1. (intr) to thrive; prosper

2. (intr) to be at the peak of condition

3. (intr) to be healthy

   plants flourish in the light

4. to wave or cause to wave in the air with sweeping strokes

5. to display or make a display

6. to play (a fanfare, etc) on a musical instrument

7. (intr) to embellish writing, characters, etc, with ornamental strokes

8. to add decorations or embellishments to (speech or writing)

9. (intr) an obsolete word for blossom

noun

1. the act of waving or brandishing

2. a showy gesture

   he entered with a flourish

3. an ornamental embellishment in writing

4. a display of ornamental language or speech

5. a grandiose passage of music

6. an ostentatious display or parade

7. obsolete

   1. the state of flourishing

   2. the state of flowering

Other Word Forms

• flourisher noun
• outflourish verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of flourish¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English florisshen, from Middle French floriss-, long stem of florir, ultimately from Latin flōrēre “to bloom,” derivative of flōs flower

Word History and Origins

Origin of flourish¹

C13: from Old French florir , ultimately from Latin flōrēre to flower, from flōs a flower

Synonym Study

See succeed.

Example Sentences

Thus, with a flourish, Pynchon types fin to his secret 20th century.

From Los Angeles Times

If you’re lucky, you might also catch them grilling kushiyaki, skewers of meat and vegetables that add a smoky flourish to your meal.

From Salon

The tea plants in lunar soil flourished, performing on par with those in Devonian soil, while the Mars saplings failed to grow.

From Salon

In her speech, Reeves will also set out her belief in a "Britain based on opportunity", where "ordinary kids can flourish, unhindered by their background".

From BBC

This is because Potter waited 637 days to make what he regarded as a carefully calculated return to the game after leaving Chelsea, believing West Ham was the ideal place to flourish once more.

From BBC

Related Words

• bloom 
• blossom 
• boom 
• develop 
• do well 
• expand 
• multiply 
• succeed 
• thrive