blushing

[ bluhsh-ing ]

adjective

1. reddening, as from embarrassment or self-consciousness:

   All eyes were on the blushing bride—the star of the evening!

   At the mayor’s request, they serenaded the blushing councilor with a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

2. feeling or showing embarrassment or self-consciousness:

   The author plows ahead with a disarmingly blushing work about trying to embrace her queer identity, her marriage, and motherhood simultaneously.

3. rosy, as the sky, flowers, etc.:

   This chocolate Valentine cake is delicious—and the blushing raspberry frosting is the perfect pink.

Other Words From

• blush·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of blushing¹

First recorded in 1560–70; blush ( def ) + -ing ²( def )

Example Sentences

Turns out blushing is a spontaneous emotional reaction, instead of a result of cognitive self-reflection, new research published on Wednesday suggests.

From BBC

It's the color of health, fresh cheeks blushing under the effect of emotion.

From Salon

She carried herself with the ease of a beautiful woman, swinging her hips and not blushing at raunchy jokes, when the rest of us were still awkward girls.

From Salon

I saw Beatrice there in the center of this scene, Beatrice blushing in white.

From Literature

I remember blushing over my first romance novel, liberated from my mother’s bookshelf.

From Seattle Times