flourish
1 of 2verb
flour·ish ˈflər-ish 
ˈflə-rish
flourished; flourishing; flourishes
intransitive verb
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
transitive verb
: to wield with dramatic gestures : brandish
Dressed as a pirate, he entered the stage flourishing his sword.
flourisher noun
flourish
2 of 2noun
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
Verb
- burgeon
- bourgeon
- prosper
- thrive
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Chadd Scott, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 Muhajer believed that the U.S.-backed republic, though Islamic in name, was a corrupt tool of Western imperialism, whose leaders not only stole billions intended for their own people but also allowed sins like alcohol and adultery to flourish. New York Times, 8 Aug. 2022 Then, the pandemic hit, and the flows of cash that had allowed corporations to flourish over the past decade were suddenly redirected to consumers. Will Daniel, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2022 Ending that drought in a loud fashion allowed the program to flourish once again. Stephen Means, cleveland, 23 June 2022 Following two years of expansion that allowed more sites to flourish and more students to be fed, advocates with Project Bread expect the loss of 50 sites and about 5 million meals this summer as a result of the federal program’s end. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 5 June 2022 Police have denied knowledge of the ransom. Uche criticized the government for the deterioration of the country's security that has allowed kidnappers to flourish. Chinedu Asadu, ajc, 3 June 2022 But now, two years later, the judicial philosophy that propelled Boudin’s win may lead to his undoing as his detractors claim that his approach to criminal justice has allowed crime to flourish and made San Francisco less safe. Megan Cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 May 2022 And the pandemic showed many other companies that their employees could flourish in a fully or partially remote work environment. Rhoan Morgan, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 David Woods, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Sep. 2022 Or, like a cake being sliced, as the artist told Times reporter Suzanne Muchnic when the snazzy sculpture was unveiled in 1989, its architectural flourish like frosting decorating the building. Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2022 Logan pays his respects to convention and adds his own flourish. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 15 June 2022 Fast forward to today, and the art and design classes from my childhood flourish in my day-to-day life at Juni, and the Chinese language lessons have been a game changer in my journey. Vivian Shen, Forbes, 9 June 2022 On the track, which features Vince Staples, the singer blends 2000s pop principles with the sound of Bollywood, and the pairing hears her flourish. James Dinh, Billboard, 3 May 2022 The EcoSport is no longer available with a jaunty, externally mounted spare tire, its one styling flourish. Austin Irwin, Car and Driver, 3 Feb. 2022 The Colonels also did a good job of keeping the ball out of Baldwin's hands with him taking only two shots since his opening flourish and missing both. Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2021 Practicing it on the final day of camp, Aya Knudsen Rein worked a flourish into her drum solo, then smiled proudly. New York Times, 7 July 2022 See More
Verb
Cutting off the outside supply allowed the domestic slave trade to flourish. Chadd Scott, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 Muhajer believed that the U.S.-backed republic, though Islamic in name, was a corrupt tool of Western imperialism, whose leaders not only stole billions intended for their own people but also allowed sins like alcohol and adultery to flourish. New York Times, 8 Aug. 2022 Then, the pandemic hit, and the flows of cash that had allowed corporations to flourish over the past decade were suddenly redirected to consumers. Will Daniel, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2022 Ending that drought in a loud fashion allowed the program to flourish once again. Stephen Means, cleveland, 23 June 2022 Following two years of expansion that allowed more sites to flourish and more students to be fed, advocates with Project Bread expect the loss of 50 sites and about 5 million meals this summer as a result of the federal program’s end. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 5 June 2022 Police have denied knowledge of the ransom. Uche criticized the government for the deterioration of the country's security that has allowed kidnappers to flourish. Chinedu Asadu, ajc, 3 June 2022 But now, two years later, the judicial philosophy that propelled Boudin’s win may lead to his undoing as his detractors claim that his approach to criminal justice has allowed crime to flourish and made San Francisco less safe. Megan Cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 May 2022 And the pandemic showed many other companies that their employees could flourish in a fully or partially remote work environment. Rhoan Morgan, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 Noun
Elsewhere in track and field, Kara Winger finished with a flourish. David Woods, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Sep. 2022 Or, like a cake being sliced, as the artist told Times reporter Suzanne Muchnic when the snazzy sculpture was unveiled in 1989, its architectural flourish like frosting decorating the building. Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2022 Logan pays his respects to convention and adds his own flourish. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 15 June 2022 Fast forward to today, and the art and design classes from my childhood flourish in my day-to-day life at Juni, and the Chinese language lessons have been a game changer in my journey. Vivian Shen, Forbes, 9 June 2022 On the track, which features Vince Staples, the singer blends 2000s pop principles with the sound of Bollywood, and the pairing hears her flourish. James Dinh, Billboard, 3 May 2022 The EcoSport is no longer available with a jaunty, externally mounted spare tire, its one styling flourish. Austin Irwin, Car and Driver, 3 Feb. 2022 The Colonels also did a good job of keeping the ball out of Baldwin's hands with him taking only two shots since his opening flourish and missing both. Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2021 Practicing it on the final day of camp, Aya Knudsen Rein worked a flourish into her drum solo, then smiled proudly. New York Times, 7 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English florisshen "to put forth flowers, bloom, grow luxuriantly, prosper, brandish (a weapon)," borrowed from Anglo-French floriss-, stem of florir, flurir "to bloom, grow abundantly, thrive," going back to Vulgar Latin *flōrīre, restructuring of Latin flōrēscere "to begin to flower, increase in vigor," inchoative derivative of flōrēre "to bloom, prosper, be at the peak of one's powers," stative verbal derivative of flōr-, flōs flower entry 1
Noun
derivative of flourish entry 1
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun
circa 1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
flourish 1 of 2
verb
flour·ish ˈflər-ish
flourished; flourishing
1
: to grow well : thrive
Plants flourish in this rich soil.
2
: to do well : enjoy success
This style of art flourished in the 1920s.
3
: to make sweeping movements with
He flourished a sword.
flourish
2 of 2noun
1
: a fancy bit of decoration added to something
He added a flourish to his signature.
2
: a sweeping motion
She removed her hat with a flourish.
flourish 1 of 2
verb
1
as in to thrive
to grow vigorously that plant flourishes in cool, wet weather Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- thrive
- prosper
- burgeon
- proliferate
- bourgeon
- bloom
- sprout
- produce
- flower
- overgrow
- luxuriate
- root
- propagate
- shoot up
- germinate
- seed
- fruit
- regenerate
2
as in to prosper
to reach a desired level of accomplishment the arts program flourished once it received adequate funding Synonyms & Similar Words
- thrive
- prosper
- succeed
- arrive
- excel
- make it
- get ahead
- cut it
- get there
- hack it
- get somewhere
- make good
- win
- prevail
- hit it big
- cut the mustard
- make the grade
- make one's mark
- triumph
- come into one's own
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fail
- flounder
- struggle
flourish
2 of 2noun
1
as in wave
Synonyms & Similar Words
- wave
- beckon
- shrug
- body language
- beck
- sign language
- sign
- motion
- gesticulation
- pantomime
- gesture
- indication
- mime
- signal
- posture
2
as in filigree
Synonyms & Similar Words
- filigree
- ruffle
- flounce
- finery
- enrichment
- fal-lal
- bells and whistles
- improvement
- embellishment
- enhancement
- ornamentation
- furbelow
- ornament
- trim
- adornment
- decoration
- blazonry
- apparel
- emblazonry
- garnish
- frippery
- frosting
- froufrou
- foofaraw
- chichi
- embroidery
- garniture
- frill
- appliqué
- glitter
- embellisher
- bric-a-brac
- beautifier
- fancywork
- embossment
- design
- garnishment
- gilt
- doodad
- trappings
- pattern
- setoff
- furnishings
- caparison
- bedizenment
- regalia
- figure
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- blemish
- scar
- disfigurement
- spot
- stain
- blot
- defacement
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of flourish are brandish, swing, thrash, and wave. While all these words mean "to wield or cause to move to and fro or up and down," flourish suggests vigorous, ostentatious, graceful movement.
flourished the winning lottery ticket
The meanings of brandish and flourish largely overlap; however, brandish implies threatening or menacing motion.
brandishing a knife
While the synonyms swing and flourish are close in meaning, swing implies regular or uniform movement.
swing the rope back and forth
The synonyms thrash and flourish are sometimes interchangeable, but thrash suggests vigorous, abrupt, violent movement.
an infant thrashing his arms about
While in some cases nearly identical to flourish, wave usually implies smooth or continuous motion.
waving the flag