flourish

[ flur-ish, fluhr- ]

verb (used without object)

1. to be in a vigorous state; thrive:

   a period in which art flourished.

   Synonyms: increase, grow

   Antonyms: decline, fade

2. to be in its or in one's prime; be at the height of fame, excellence, influence, etc.
3. to be successful; prosper.
4. to grow luxuriantly, or thrive in growth, as a plant.
5. to make dramatic, sweeping gestures:

   Flourish more when you act out the king's great death scene.

6. to add embellishments and ornamental lines to writing, letters, etc.
7. to sound a trumpet call or fanfare.

verb (used with object)

1. to brandish dramatically; gesticulate with:

   a conductor flourishing his baton for the crescendo.

2. to decorate or embellish (writing, a page of script, etc.) with sweeping or fanciful curves or lines.

   Synonyms: ornament

noun

1. an act or instance of brandishing.
2. an ostentatious display.
3. a decoration or embellishment, especially in writing:

   He added a few flourishes to his signature.

   Synonyms: adornment, ornament

4. Rhetoric. a parade of fine language; an expression used merely for effect.
5. a trumpet call or fanfare.
6. a condition or period of thriving:

   in full flourish.

flourish

/ ˈflʌrɪʃ /

verb

1. intr to thrive; prosper
2. intr to be at the peak of condition
3. intr to be healthy

   plants flourish in the light

4. to wave or cause to wave in the air with sweeping strokes
5. to display or make a display
6. to play (a fanfare, etc) on a musical instrument
7. intr to embellish writing, characters, etc, with ornamental strokes
8. to add decorations or embellishments to (speech or writing)
9. intr an obsolete word for blossom

noun

1. the act of waving or brandishing
2. a showy gesture

   he entered with a flourish

3. an ornamental embellishment in writing
4. a display of ornamental language or speech
5. a grandiose passage of music
6. an ostentatious display or parade
7. obsolete.
   1. the state of flourishing
   2. the state of flowering

Derived Forms

• ˈflourisher, noun

Other Words From

• flourish·er noun
• outflourish verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of flourish¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English florisshen, from Middle French floriss-, long stem of florir, ultimately from Latin flōrēre “to bloom,” derivative of flōs flower

Word History and Origins

Origin of flourish¹

C13: from Old French florir , ultimately from Latin flōrēre to flower, from flōs a flower

Synonym Study

See succeed.

Example Sentences

“What JD Vance saw a little bit later, is what tens of millions of Americans are facing now, because of the opioid crisis, and frankly, not because of ill intention by people who want big government, I'm going to ascribe good motives there, but government has displaced the very factors that allowed me to flourish: family, friends, communities, churches, civic organizations,” Roberts said.

From Salon

As a candidate, Sheinbaum vowed to continue the strategy of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who expanded the military’s reach but sought to avoid direct confrontations with cartels, and insisted that the best path was to address the social conditions that allow violence to flourish.

From Los Angeles Times

"In terms of sport, this is a fantastic opportunity for India to show it wants cricket to flourish, rather than saying 'no, we don't fancy going to Pakistan'. Every one of the big nations need to travel to all of the other countries in order to grow the game and in that respect, India has too much clout."

From BBC

South could flourish despite the historical baggage of the American Revolution’s break from the Old World and its attendant monarchies and aristocracies.

From Salon

A constant lob threat, Mara could flourish in the pick and roll and has developed a variety of moves around the basket including jump hooks and drop steps.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• embellishment
• ornamentation
• quirk
• twist