Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

blushing

adjective blush·ing \ ˈblə-shiŋ \

Definition of blushing

: marked by blushes
  • her blushing cheeks
—often used conventionally to suggest (sometimes ironically) an appearance of youthful innocence
  • the blushing bride
—

blushingly

adverb
    • The presumptuous child blushingly protested she had never expressed any such wish to Peter …
    • —Henry James

Recent Examples of blushing from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'blushing.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of blushing

1609

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

Learn More about blushing

  1. Nglish: Translation of blushing for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of blushing for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up blushing? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

cerulean

play

resembling the blue of the sky

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. hogwash 'nonsense, balderdash'

  2. probity 'adherence to the highest principles and ideals'

  3. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  4. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  5. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

blushing

Test Your Vocabulary

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

  • alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
  • Which is the correct spelling?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games