flourish verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of flourish verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

flourish

verb
 
/ˈflʌrɪʃ/
 
/ˈflɜːrɪʃ/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they flourish
 
/ˈflʌrɪʃ/
 
/ˈflɜːrɪʃ/
he / she / it flourishes
 
/ˈflʌrɪʃɪz/
 
/ˈflɜːrɪʃɪz/
past simple flourished
 
/ˈflʌrɪʃt/
 
/ˈflɜːrɪʃt/
past participle flourished
 
/ˈflʌrɪʃt/
 
/ˈflɜːrɪʃt/
-ing form flourishing
 
/ˈflʌrɪʃɪŋ/
 
/ˈflɜːrɪʃɪŋ/
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  1. [intransitive] to develop quickly and become successful or common synonym thrive
    • Few businesses are flourishing in the present economic climate.
    • The arts began to flourish at that time.
    • There was a flourishing black market.
    Extra Examples
    • The company has continued to flourish over the years.
    • His international career has flourished under captain James Murray.
    • Olten is a lively and flourishing town.
    • The town still flourishes as a fishing port.
    • Their relationship flourished for forty years.
    • This tradition of singing is flourishing.
    Topics Successc1
  2. [intransitive] to grow well; to be healthy and happy synonym thrive
    • These plants flourish in a damp climate.
    • (especially British English) I'm glad to hear you're all flourishing.
    • I hope the grandchildren are flourishing.
    Topics Feelingsc1, Health and Fitnessc1
  3. [transitive] flourish something to wave something around in a way that makes people look at it
    • He rushed into the room flourishing the newspaper.
  4. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French floriss-, lengthened stem of florir, based on Latin florere, from flos, flor- ‘a flower’. The noun senses ‘ornamental curve’ and ‘florid expression’ come from an obsolete sense of the verb, ‘adorn’ (originally with flowers).
See flourish in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee flourish in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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