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

Noun

• bloom
• color
• flush

Verb

• bloom
• color
• crimson
• flush
• glow
• redden

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

Meanwhile, her cheeks were dusted in peach-colored blush, her lips were painted in a coral hue and her brows were brushed up and matted down. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 23 June 2025

My go-to blush and highlighter layered smoothly over it without pilling. —Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 21 June 2025

Verb

Johnson’s cheeks were bronzed and lightly blushed, while her lips were kept bare with only a touch of pale pink color. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 June 2025

One thing both stars have in common is their willingness to bare all on television, so if Netflix's Scooby decides to go TV-MA, neither would blush at being a full-frontal Fred. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2025

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