Flourish Meaning
/ˈflʌɹ.ɪʃ/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbTo thrive or grow well.
verbTo prosper or fare well.
Sentence Examples
Legends of vampires flourish in the Balkans.
For how long did the Maya culture flourish?
CEFR Practice Quiz
The plants began to ____ in the sunny garden, growing taller and producing many vibrant blooms.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The small business began to ____ after it started advertising its unique products on social media.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English floryschen, from Old French florir (via the arrhizotonic stem floriss-), from Late Latin flōrīre, from Latin flōrēre, from Latin flōrem (“flower”, noun). Corresponds to flower + -ish.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed."
— 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC, page 1:
"Bad men as frequently prosper and flourish, and that by the means of their wickedness."
— 1795, Robert Nelson, A Companion for the Festivals and Fasts of the Church of England:
"One hall called Civil Law Hall or School, flouriſhed about this time (though in its buildings decayed) by the care of the learned and judicious Dr. Will. Warham Principal or Moderator thereof […]"
— 1792, Anthony à Wood, The History and Antiquities of the University of Oxford: In Two Books, volume 1, Oxford: John Gutch, →OCLC, page 661:
"Kobbie Mainoo, so often overlooked by Amorim, flourished alongside Casemiro in midfield as United controlled the game."
— 2026 January 17, Simon Stone, Shamoon Hafez, “Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City”, in BBC:
"But all that I ſhall ſay in this vvhole Argument, vvill be but like Bottomes of Thred, cloſe vvound vp, vvhich vvith a good Needle (perhaps) may be flouriſhed into large VVorkes."
— a. 1627 (date written), Francis [Bacon], “Considerations Touching a Warre with Spaine. […]”, in William Rawley, editor, Certaine Miscellany Works of the Right Honourable Francis Lo. Verulam, Viscount S. Alban. […], London: […] I. Hauiland for Humphrey Robinson, […], published 1629, →OCLC, page 4:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The plants began to ____ in the sunny garden, growing taller and producing many vibrant blooms.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The small business began to ____ after it started advertising its unique products on social media.