blush

1 of 2

noun

ˈbləsh 

1

: outward appearance : view

at first blush

2

: a reddening of the face especially from shame, modesty, or confusion

3

: a red or rosy tint

4

: a cosmetic applied to the face to give a usually pink color or to accent the cheekbones

blushful

ˈbləsh-fəl 

adjective

blush

2 of 2

verb

blushed; blushing; blushes

intransitive verb

1

: to become red in the face especially from shame, modesty, or confusion

2

: to feel shame or embarrassment

3

: to have a rosy or fresh color : bloom

Synonyms of blush

Noun

• color
• glow
• brightness
• bloom
• flush

Verb

• glow
• flush
• crimson

Examples of blush in a Sentence

Noun

The comment brought a blush to her cheeks.

The fruit is yellow, with a blush of pink.

She put on a little lipstick and blush.

Verb

He blushed at the compliment.

I blush to admit it, but you've caught me in an error.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Using a dual-sided brush, Bieber started by applying her pocket blush in the raspberry pink shade teacup across her cheekbone and the bridge of her nose before adding a touch of candy apple red to the highpoint of the apple of her cheek before blending out. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2026

At its core, blush is supposed to evoke a healthy and radiant complexion. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026

Verb

Other videos show the Finder app reimagined with cutesy, anime-style eyes, blushing at the camera, and someone opening a pink blush compact sporting the Apple logo. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026

The tacos, including a colorful vegetarian version studded with nobs of cauliflower, are served on some of the city’s best corn tortillas, some blushed with pink from beets or green from the soft steel of spinach. —Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, probably from blusshen

Verb

Middle English blusshen, from Old English blyscan to redden; akin to Old English blȳsa flame, Old High German bluhhen to burn brightly

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing blush

• at first blush
• blush wine

Rhymes for blush

• brush
• crush
• flush
• gush
• hush
• lush
• mush
• plush
• shush
• slush
• thrush
• airbrush

Kids Definition

blush

1 of 2 verb

ˈbləsh 

1

: to become red in the face especially from shame, confusion, or embarrassment

2

: to feel shame or embarrassment

3

: to have a rosy color : bloom

blusher noun

blush

2 of 2 noun

1

: outward appearance : view

at first blush

2

: a reddening of the face especially from shame, confusion, or embarrassment

3

: a red or rosy tint

Medical Definition

blush

intransitive verb

ˈbləsh 

: to become red in the face especially from shame, modesty, or confusion

blush noun