bloom

verb

bloomed; blooming; blooms

intransitive verb

1

a

: to produce or yield flowers

b

: to support abundant plant life

make the desert bloom

2

a(1)

: to mature into achievement of one's potential

(2)

: to flourish in youthful beauty, freshness, or excellence

b

: to shine out : glow

c

: to become more apparent or fully expressed (as in flavor or aroma)

In all classic sauces and dressings, good oil is the base from which delectable flavors bloom.

—Renée Loux Underkoffler

3

: to appear or occur unexpectedly or in remarkable quantity or degree

4

: to become densely populated with microorganisms and especially plankton

—used of bodies of water

transitive verb

1

obsolete : to cause to bloom

2

: to give bloom to

Synonyms of bloom

• flower
• blossom

Examples of bloom in a Sentence

flowers blooming in the garden

Their love was just beginning to bloom.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Green Griller likely has an herb garden blooming in his yard and entertains in a rugged yet stylish manner with a variety of equipment that imparts a clean, outdoorsy flavor without leaving behind ash. —Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026

Because of the uncharacteristically dry winter Colorado experienced, many varieties are blooming earlier than normal, said Maggie Gaddis, executive director of the Colorado Native Plant Society. —Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 28 May 2026

Historian Spencer first connected with the Viking Age expert when he was asked to review her 2021 nonfiction bestseller River Kings, and their bond bloomed from there. —Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026

Nowhere is this more evident than in California’s almond orchards, a crop that requires bee pollination to bloom. —Literary Hub, 27 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing bloom

• come in/into bloom
• in bloom
• in full bloom
• water bloom

Rhymes for bloom

• blume
• boom
• broom
• doom
• flume
• fume
• gloom
• glume
• groom
• loom
• plume
• rheum

Kids Definition

bloom

1 of 2 noun

ˈblüm 

1

a

: blossom entry 1 sense 1

b

: the period or state of flowering

the roses are in bloom

c

: an excessive growth of plankton

2

a

: blossom entry 1 sense 3

b

: a state or time of beauty, freshness, and strength

3

a

: a delicate powdery coating especially on some fruits and leaves

b

: a rosy appearance of the cheeks

bloom

2 of 2 verb

1

: to produce flowers : blossom

2

a

: blossom entry 2 sense 2

b

: to be in a state of youthful beauty or freshness : flourish

3

: to glow with rosy color

bloomer noun