- present participle of flourish.
flourishing
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of flourishing
A Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at flourish, -ing 2
Explanation
When something is flourishing, it's healthy or successful. Your flourishing lemonade stand is especially busy on hot summer afternoons. A flourishing rose bush has glossy green leaves and bright blossoms, and a city's flourishing music scene means you can see live bands every weekend and hear many different types of music. This adjective is used today for anything that's thriving or prospering, but originally it meant "full of flowers," from the Latin root flos, "a 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.
Pro softball leagues have existed since 1976, but they have lacked the visibility and accessibility imperative to flourishing and gaining popularity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
“They’re flourishing in our absence,” Huang said of Chinese chip maker Huawei in May.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
The Grade II listed Renaissance-style dock building was erected in 1865 to cater for Penarth's flourishing shipping trade and was bought and renovated by the Martinez family in 2000.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
TSMC-branded products sell at a premium in a flourishing secondary market.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
And they lived in what White viewed as well-ordered settlements, with big, flourishing fields of maize. symbols.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
