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

"Wales can be proud of, they have enabled this kind of creativity to flourish and its in a sustainable way."

Read more on BBC

Speculation in the basketball world that the Aspiration deal was a cap workaround flourished partly because of previous allegations involving Leonard.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Viktor Hovland finished his week with a flourish, moving up to 17 under and a share of fourth place after chipping in for an eagle at the last.

Read more on BBC

But they are flourishing within a kind of Gilded Age that’s at a deep remove from the rest of Black America.

Read more on Salon

Nonnative weeds have flourished in the bottom of the empty pond, which remains dry most of the time.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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