burgeon

American  

[bur-juhn] / ˈbɜr dʒən /

Also bourgeon

verb (used without object)

1. to grow or develop quickly; flourish.

   The town burgeoned into a city. He burgeoned into a fine actor.

   Synonyms:

   thrive, mushroom, blossom, bloom

2. to be brimming or filled to bursting; abound (usually followed by with).

   All the new students are burgeoning with energy and potential. The kitchen drawers were burgeoning with tea towels.

3. to begin to grow, as a bud; put forth buds, shoots, etc., as a plant (often followed byout, forth ).

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verb (used with object)

1. to put forth, as buds.

noun

1. a bud; sprout.

burgeon British  

/ ˈbɜːdʒən /

verb

1. (of a plant) to sprout (buds)

2. (intr; often foll by forth or out) to develop or grow rapidly; flourish

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noun

1. a bud of a plant

Usage

The two senses of burgeon, “to bud” ( The maples are burgeoning ) and “to grow or flourish” ( The suburbs around the city have been burgeoning under the impact of commercial growth ), date from the 14th century. Today the sense “to grow or flourish” is the more common. Occasionally, objections are raised to the use of this sense, perhaps because of its popularity in journalistic writing.

Etymology

Origin of burgeon

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English noun burjon, burion “shoot, bud,” from Anglo-French burjun, burg(e)on; Old French burjon, from unattested Vulgar Latin burriōne(m), accusative of unattested burriō, derivative of Late Latin burra “wool, fluff“ ( cf. bourrée, bureau), presumably from the down covering certain buds; verb derivative of the noun

Explanation

Use the verb burgeon to describe something that is growing, expanding, and flourishing. If you have a green thumb, in the spring your flower gardens may burgeon. If you don't have a green thumb, your collection of plastic plants may burgeon. Although burgeon means to grow and flourish, it doesn't necessarily have to apply only to plants. Your town can have burgeoning downtown development. Your tiny retirement account can burgeon into an excellent emergency fund if you invest even a small amount each month. You may have a burgeoning career as a villain if you overthrow a planet by using your mind-controlling ray gun on the populace.

Example Sentences

It’s why Redick’s got a plan to help this community rebuild, a foundation that will start with the rec center and burgeon into a lifeline for public facilities around Southern California.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2025

Guo thinks rice yield might also burgeon if it could be modified with its own chloroplast gene rather than one from mustard—further heating up these already hot results.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 21, 2020

As a result, the second joey, after it is born and has grown in the pouch, will be exiting the pouch around the time that spring grasses burgeon, when there is plenty to eat.

From New York Times • Mar. 2, 2020

The season’s traditions burgeon with messages of brotherhood and good will.

From Washington Times • Dec. 23, 2019

Unless a writer feels free, things will not come to him, he cannot burgeon on any subject whatsoever.

From Guide to Life and Literature of the Southwest, with a Few Observations by Dobie, J. Frank (James Frank)

Related Words

• prosper
• snowball
• sprout