blossom

1 of 2

noun

blos·​som ˈblä-səm 

plural blossoms

1

a

: the flower of a flowering plant

apple blossoms

also : the mass of such flowers on a single plant

b

: the state of bearing flowers

plants in blossom

2

: a peak period or stage of development

… young women and men still in the blossom of life.

—Allen Best

blossomy

ˈblä-sə-mē 

adjective

a blossomy [=floral] aroma

An old gray house, surrounded by willows, in a blossomy brook valley …

—Lucy Maud Montgomery

blossom

2 of 2

verb

blossomed; blossoming; blossoms

intransitive verb

1

: bloom

2

a

: to come into one's own : develop

a blossoming talent

b

: to become evident

c

: to make an appearance

Synonyms

Noun

• bloom
• florescence
• floruit
• flower
• flush
• heyday
• high noon
• prime
• salad days
• springtime

Verb

• bloom
• blow
• burgeon
• bourgeon
• effloresce
• flower
• unfold

Examples of blossom in a Sentence

Noun

Her hair smelled of apple blossoms.

in the full blossom of her career as a writer

Verb

Their friendship blossomed into romance.

the fruit tree seemed to blossom overnight once the warm spring weather arrived

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Boosters nevertheless clung to citrus and its markers — the smell of orange blossoms, the crate labels with idyllic scenes of Old California — as proof of our subtropical paradise. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024

The killers stuffed the playing card, with a club suit that looked like a plum blossom, down her back along with a note written in Chinese, saying her family failed to pay the ransom and taunting cops to find them. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 14 Dec. 2024

Verb

The teen came out as transgender in 2020 and has been blossoming and advocating for others since. —Essence, 13 Dec. 2024

The stories build, blossom and intertwine, moving forward or laterally at their own pace. —Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English blosme, from Old English blōstm; akin to Old English blōwan

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

blossom

1 of 2 noun

blos·​som ˈbläs-əm 

1

: the flower of a seed plant

apple blossoms

also : the mass of such flowers on a single plant

a light blossom on the rose bush

2

: bloom entry 1 sense 1b

3

: a peak period or stage of development

blossomy

-ə-mē 

adjective

blossom

2 of 2 verb

1

: bloom entry 2 sense 1

2

: to grow and do well

students who blossom in college