flourishing

UK: /ˈflʌrɪʃɪŋ/ US: (flûr′i shing, flur′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

flour•ish•ing  (flûr′i shing, flur′-), adj. 

1. growing vigorously;
   thriving;
   prosperous:
   a flourishing little business.

• 1250–1300; Middle English; see flourish, -ing²

flour′ish•ing•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

flour•ish /ˈflɜrɪʃ, ˈflʌr-/   v. 

1. to be in a vigorous state;
   thrive:
   [no object] a period in which art flourished.
2. to be successful;
   prosper:
   [no object] The business was flourishing.
3. to hold (something) dramatically for all to see;
   brandish:
   [~ + object] He flourished the trophy.

n. 

4. a dramatic gesture:
   [countable] With a flourish he placed the document in the attorney's hands.
5. a decoration or extra feature added to writing:
   [countable] Her signature has many flourishes.
6. Music and Dance fanfare:
   [countable] a flourish of trumpets.
7. a condition or period of thriving:
   [uncountable] a civilization in full flourish.

See -flor-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

flour•ish  (flûr′ish, flur′-), v.i. 

1. to be in a vigorous state;
   thrive:
   a period in which art flourished.
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. Music and Dance to sound a trumpet call or fanfare.

v.t. 

8. to brandish dramatically;
   gesticulate with:
   a conductor flourishing his baton for the crescendo.
9. to decorate or embellish (writing, a page of script, etc.) with sweeping or fanciful curves or lines.

n. 

10. an act or instance of brandishing.
11. an ostentatious display.
12. a decoration or embellishment, esp. in writing:
    He added a few flourishes to his signature.
13. Rhetoric a parade of fine language;
    an expression used merely for effect.
14. Music and Dance a trumpet call or fanfare.
15. a condition or period of thriving:
    in full flourish.

• Middle French floriss-, long stem of florir Latin flōrēre to bloom, derivative of flōs flower
• Middle English florisshen 1250–1300

flour′ish•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. grow, increase. See succeed. 
• 9. ornament.
• 12. ornament, adornment.

Antonyms

• 1. fade, decline.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

flourish / ˈflʌrɪʃ/ verb

1. (intransitive) to thrive; prosper
2. (intransitive) to be at the peak of condition
3. (intransitive) 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. (intransitive)
   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

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French florir, ultimately from Latin flōrēre to flower, from flōs a flower

ˈflourisher noun