flourish
verb (used without object)
to be in a vigorous state; thrive.
were flourishing
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past progressiveof flourish.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
She said nurseries were "flourishing" before the pandemic with a waiting list "bursting at the seams".
From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2026
By the time the shah fell, Iran’s water systems were flourishing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 16, 2025
“Print newspapers were flourishing, The Times still came out in the afternoon and we were expanding our suburban editions,” remembers Karen Cater, copy editor and former copy desk chief.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 28, 2023
"The genomic data confirms that blood feeding evolved very early, before some vertebrate groups, like mammals and birds, were flourishing on Earth," Wiegmann said.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2023
While luxury stores, miraculous finance companies, exotic restaurants, and import business were flourishing, the unemployed lined up outside factory gates waiting for a chance to work at the minimum wage.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
