flourish
Americanverb (used without object)
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to be in a vigorous state; thrive.
a period in which art flourished.
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to be in its or in one's prime; be at the height of fame, excellence, influence, etc.
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to be successful; prosper.
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to grow luxuriantly, or thrive in growth, as a plant.
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to make dramatic, sweeping gestures.
Flourish more when you act out the king's great death scene.
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to add embellishments and ornamental lines to writing, letters, etc.
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to sound a trumpet call or fanfare.
verb (used with object)
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to brandish dramatically; gesticulate with.
a conductor flourishing his baton for the crescendo.
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to decorate or embellish (writing, a page of script, etc.) with sweeping or fanciful curves or lines.
- Synonyms:
- ornament
noun
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an act or instance of brandishing.
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an ostentatious display.
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a decoration or embellishment, especially in writing.
He added a few flourishes to his signature.
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Rhetoric. a parade of fine language; an expression used merely for effect.
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a trumpet call or fanfare.
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a condition or period of thriving.
in full flourish.
verb
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(intr) to thrive; prosper
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(intr) to be at the peak of condition
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(intr) to be healthy
plants flourish in the light
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to wave or cause to wave in the air with sweeping strokes
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to display or make a display
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to play (a fanfare, etc) on a musical instrument
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(intr) to embellish writing, characters, etc, with ornamental strokes
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to add decorations or embellishments to (speech or writing)
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(intr) an obsolete word for blossom
noun
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the act of waving or brandishing
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a showy gesture
he entered with a flourish
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an ornamental embellishment in writing
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a display of ornamental language or speech
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a grandiose passage of music
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an ostentatious display or parade
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obsolete
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the state of flourishing
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the state of flowering
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Related Words
See succeed.
Other Word Forms
- flourisher noun
- outflourish verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of flourish
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
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.
"I love the idea that by the end of this three-year project, revellers and runners will have created a fledgling Welsh forest, which could flourish for hundreds of years," she said.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson said monetary policy credibility is key for both lowering inflation and creating conditions that allow the economy to flourish.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
The work is designed to help the hedgerows flourish by encouraging flowering and fruit as well as providing food and shelter for wildlife.
From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026
The less happy story is that my generation’s unprecedented financial success is now directly hindering our offsprings’ ability to similarly flourish.
From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026
Panda-Laney unzipped Paganini’s bag, and the little rabbit hopped out with a flourish, gazing around for something edible, nose twitching rhythmically.
From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser
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.
