blushing

adjective

blush·​ing ˈblə-shiŋ How to pronounce blushing (audio)
: 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

Examples of blushing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The saxophones and horns of Miller’s Army Air Force Band waft through the house, enveloping the medals on the wall and the photos of a young soldier and his blushing bride. Bill Newcott, National Geographic, 13 Dec. 2019 But when a thorny, unsolved problem arose a boss invariably stood up and pointed to the blushing youngster. Brandon R. Brown, Smithsonian, 12 July 2019 There could be hundreds of such blushing encounters before the chameleons of two different colors are familiar enough to mate. Quanta Magazine, 28 July 2017 And on her wedding day, Paltrow looked every bit the blushing bride. Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2018 And then his blushing bride-to-be, fellow host Mika Brzezinski, vigorously defends him on Twitter. Fox News, 12 Sep. 2018 Inspired by 2003's Kill Bill, the Western-themed music video opens in a church, with Cardi starring as a blushing bride, with glowy skin and a head full of platinum blond strands blowing in the wind. Helena Yeung, Teen Vogue, 22 May 2018 Much like the blushing bride, the six young bridesmaids walked down the aisle in dresses designed by Givenchy‘s Clare Waight Keller, according to a palace statement. Maria Pasquini, PEOPLE.com, 19 May 2018 With soft blushing cheeks and a lip color that practically matches, Kate Bosworth looks like a picture-perfect celestial maiden. Kathleen Hou, The Cut, 7 May 2018

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

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of blushing was in 1609

Dictionary Entries Near blushing

Cite this Entry

“Blushing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blushing. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

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