flourish
verb
flour·ish
| \ ˈflər-ish
, ˈflə-rish\
, ˈflə-rish\
flourished;
flourishing;
flourishes
Definition of flourish
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: to grow luxuriantly : thrive
2a
: to achieve success : prosper
a flourishing business
b
: to be in a state of activity or production
flourished around 1850
c
: to reach a height of development or influence
The company flourished with record profits under the new owner.
3
: to make bold and sweeping gestures
: to wield with dramatic gestures : brandish
Dressed as a pirate, he entered the stage flourishing his sword.
flourish
nounDefinition of flourish (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: an act or instance of brandishing or waving
2a
: a florid bit of speech or writing
rhetorical flourishes
b
: an ornamental stroke in writing or printing
c
: a decorative or finishing detail
a house with clever little flourishes
3
: fanfare
4a
: a period of thriving
b
: a luxuriant growth or profusion
a flourish of white hair a springtime flourish of color
5
: showiness in the doing of something
opened the door with a flourish
6
: a sudden burst
a flourish of activity
Keep scrolling for more
Synonyms for flourish
Synonyms: Verb
burgeon (also bourgeon), prosper, thrive
Visit the Thesaurus for More
Examples of flourish in a Sentence
Verb
plants and animals that flourished here thousands of years ago Regional markets have flourished in recent years.
Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
But Bargatze is smarter and funnier than his most recent material implies, and his subtle, self-deprecating stage presence flourishes on stage in a way that no TV special could communicate. — John Wenzel, The Know, "Larry the Cable Guy, High Plains Festival and more Colorado comedy you need to know in September," 6 Sep. 2019 Reef Bay Trail, U.S. Virgin Islands In what is the U.S. Virgin Islands today, the Taino civilization flourished from 900 to the 1490s. — Jennifer Billock, Smithsonian, "Eight Spots in the United States Where You Can See Petroglyphs," 18 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flourish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more