flourished; flourishing; flourishes
1
: to grow luxuriantly : thrive
2
a
: to achieve success : prosper
a flourishing business
b
: to be in a state of activity or production
flourished around 1850
c
: to reach a height of development or influence
The company flourished with record profits under the new owner.
3
: to make bold and sweeping gestures
: to wield with dramatic gestures : brandish
Dressed as a pirate, he entered the stage flourishing his sword.
flourisher
noun
1
: an act or instance of brandishing or waving
2
a
: a florid bit of speech or writing
rhetorical flourishes
b
: an ornamental stroke in writing or printing
c
: a decorative or finishing detail
a house with clever little flourishes
3
: fanfare
4
a
: a period of thriving
b
: a luxuriant growth or profusion
a flourish of white hair
a springtime flourish of color
5
: showiness in the doing of something
opened the door with a flourish
6
: a sudden burst
a flourish of activity
Synonyms
Examples of flourish in a Sentence
Verb
plants and animals that flourished here thousands of years ago
Regional markets have flourished in recent years.
a decorative style that flourished in the 1920s
Dressed as a pirate, he entered the stage flourishing his sword.
Noun
the floral flourishes in the living room
a house with many clever little flourishes
Her writing style is simple and clear, without unnecessary flourishes.
Dinner was served with a flourish.
He waved his sword with a flourish.
She opened the door with a flourish.
With a flourish of her pen, she signed the bill into law.
Recent Examples on the Web
Danielle James, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2024
Education consultancies flourished across China, with parents paying big bucks for tutors and classes that promised to send their children abroad.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 2024
The iconic transformation sequence, filled with genuinely ghastly flourishes, is rightfully canonized, but every shock effect is masterfully realized and admirably icky.
—EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for flourish 
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Verb
These skin-first makeup products represent significant industry upgrades, providing an ideal environment for K-beauty to flourish in its new phase.
—Danielle James, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2024
Education consultancies flourished across China, with parents paying big bucks for tutors and classes that promised to send their children abroad.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
Miller also doesn’t shy away from over-the-top flourishes like a flame-shooting guitar player, proving that even a serious action director can have fun with his material.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 2024
The iconic transformation sequence, filled with genuinely ghastly flourishes, is rightfully canonized, but every shock effect is masterfully realized and admirably icky.
—EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for flourish
Dictionary Entries Near flourish
Cite this Entry
“Flourish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flourish. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flourish
2 of 2 noun1
: a fancy bit of decoration added to something (as handwriting)
2
: a sweeping motion
3
: fanfare
4
: a period of thriving
5
: a sudden burst
a flourish of activity
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