blossom

1 of 2

noun

blos·​som ˈblä-səm How to pronounce blossom (audio)
1
a
: the flower of a seed plant
apple blossoms
also : the mass of such flowers on a single plant
b
: the state of bearing flowers
2
: a peak period or stage of development
blossomy adjective

blossom

2 of 2

verb

blossomed; blossoming; blossoms

intransitive verb

1
: bloom
2
a
: to come into one's own : develop
a blossoming talent
b
: to become evident
c
: to make an appearance

Examples of blossom in a Sentence

Noun Her hair smelled of apple blossoms. in the full blossom of her career as a writer Verb Their friendship blossomed into romance. the fruit tree seemed to blossom overnight once the warm spring weather arrived
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Here’s our 2024 cherry blossom forecast for peak bloom. Tim Meko, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Cherry blossoms became one of the regular topics of waka composition. Małgorzata (gosia) K. Citko-Duplantis, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024 Learn more about the blossom stages: https://t.co/Yd0Z1y1FHD#Cherryblossom #BloomWatch #WashingtonDC pic.twitter.com/ULZzvdBoT8 — National Mall NPS (@NationalMallNPS) March 2, 2024 Last year, the trees reached peak bloom on March 23. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 Though cherry blossoms are scattered throughout the capital, the highest concentration of the trees is in Potomac Park, around the Tidal Basin near the Jefferson Memorial, close to the National Mall. USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 Bookable from March 15, the hotel is offering a Spring Package that includes a private charter boat tour and complimentary cherry blossom amenity. Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 While peak blooming periods can vary depending on the temperature, lucky visitors may be able to catch Japan's cherry blossoms and wisteria blooms in one trip. Talia Avakian, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 The cherry blossoms remain a major draw this time of year for Japan. Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2024 Through June, long after the cherry blossoms have passed, the Waldorf Astoria is offering a Cherry Blossom Unforgettable Memories Package, available for bookings of two nights or longer. Katie Chang, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Verb
White tights stuffed with socks, tutus and an orange pepper blossomed into Björk’s infamous swan frock from 2001. Max Berlinger, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2024 Though Cameron Crowe’s film doesn’t quite match the pitch of past rom-com projects like Jerry Maguire, Cooper blossoms under his direction much like how Tom Cruise did back in ‘96. Eric Farwell, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2024 The poem can also be interpreted more generally: Dew is a symbol of human life, and the fall of cherry blossoms a metaphor for death. Małgorzata (gosia) K. Citko-Duplantis, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024 And what eventually blossomed into a co-CEO partnership began with a single phone call. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 Over the decades, the site blossomed into the familiar festival grounds beloved by many today. Eva Wen, Journal Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2024 The list of authors affected is long, and the rip-offs have blossomed in variety. Will Oremus, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 In the post-Covid landscape, multifunctional spaces are blossoming, reshaping urban and corporate cultures for improved engagement and human health. Anna C Mallon, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Coca-Cola Has a Secret Site with Cocktail Recipes Using Your Favorite Drinks Innovative carbonated beverages are on the rise among soft drink fans, also shown by Coca-Cola's La Croix brand, which offers a wide range of flavors from pamplemousse to cherry blossom. Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blossom.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English blosme, from Old English blōstm; akin to Old English blōwan

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of blossom was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near blossom

Cite this Entry

“Blossom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blossom. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

blossom

1 of 2 noun
blos·​som ˈbläs-əm How to pronounce blossom (audio)
1
: the flower of a seed plant
apple blossoms
also : the mass of such flowers on a single plant
a light blossom on the rose bush
2
3
: a peak period or stage of development
blossomy adjective

blossom

2 of 2 verb
1
2
: to grow and do well
students who blossom in college

More from Merriam-Webster on blossom

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