flower 1 of 2

noun

ˈflau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce flower (audio)
Definition of flowernext
1
as in bloom
the usually showy plant part that produces seeds flowers are always a thoughtful gift

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in blooming
a state or time of great activity, thriving, or achievement the skiing season is usually in full flower by Christmas

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in best
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class without exception, the flower of this year's graduating class will be going to prestigious colleges

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flower

2 of 2

verb

as in to bloom
to produce flowers the plant will keep flowering if you water it and regularly cut off the dead blossoms

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flower
Noun
Busan partnered with Chanel to establish the award, named after Gabrielle Chanel’s favorite flower, which was last year awarded to Taiwanese actress, director and producer Sylvia Chang. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026 This will encourage the future flower stalks to be tall and strong—perfect for fall flower arrangements. — The Spruce, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
Many of the region's signature experiences are found in the months between–on ridgeline paths and in meadows that flower for a few weeks and vanish. — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026 Over the following three years, persistent rain during flowering season caused pollination failure, cutting into his yield. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flower
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flower
  1. bloom
  2. blooming
  3. best
  4. blossom
  5. aristocracy
  6. cream
  7. pink
  8. top
Noun
  • Why Deadheading Will Help Next Year’s Roses Deadheading is the practice of removing dead blooms from your plant to encourage more growth.
    — Mallory Carra, The Spruce, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Warm and lush, earthy and bold, the scent has an ornate quality that’s more vase-of-roses-in-a-chinoiserie-sitting-room than dewy, garden-fresh bloom.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of bloom
Noun
  • For large, mature plants, dividing can also help support vigorous blooming, as overcrowding can negatively impact the plant’s ability to develop blooms.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Once blooms fade, seeds eventually begin to form, the plant becomes leggy, and blooming slows.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 16 July 2026
Definition of blooming
Noun
  • With the three-row Kia Sorento, the Hyundai Palisade retains the South Korean brands’ 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, both segment and industry bests.
    — James Raia, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Scott William Winters plays Clark, a Harvard student who Will intellectually bests.
    — Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026
Definition of best
Verb
  • But his upcoming two-week run with pianist Bill O’Connell, a major force on New York City’s Latin jazz scene since the 1970s, blossomed out of a rare career convergence.
    — Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The rookie receiver has already developed a chemistry with quarterback Malik Willis, something that could hopefully blossom into something special once the regular season gets under way.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of blossom
Noun
  • The latter category, anticipating biomimicry, is well represented by the automata that captivated the aristocracy in the following century.
    — Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • At last, Jones also thought, there was a chance to spotlight the dynamic between North Wales‘ working-class community and its aristocracy on the big screen, a corner of Britain’s social history that has long been sidelined.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026
Definition of aristocracy
Noun
  • At Khaite, electric yellow pumps punched up creams and crisp whites.
    — Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond the patch, other options for estradiol delivery include pills, creams and sprays.
    — Beth Sobol, Flow Space, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of cream
Noun
  • This mid-tone blue layers effortlessly with complementary hues like soft gray and creamy pink for a warm, inviting home.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Nola pitched until the sky grew a soft pink over the scoreboard.
    — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of pink
Noun
  • And there’s no such thing as an easy game, with the bottom teams capable of beating the top every week.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • After the blow, Arellano appears to get on top of Hackett, who is still struggling and appears to be trying to twist off of her stomach, the video shows.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of top

Browse Nearby Words

flowed
flower
flowered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flower.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flower. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on flower

Nglish: Translation of flower for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flower

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of oxymoron

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All