flourish
flourish — verb
1. to grow in a strong and healthy way, or to reach a high level of success and act
to grow in a strong and healthy way, or to reach a high level of success and activity
Manuela's garden flourished after she installed a drip irrigation system.
intransitive with natural subject (plants, gardens)
The café flourished once a famous food critic wrote about its homemade pies.
intransitive with business subject
Tanvi's design studio flourished after she won a major award for her work.
Children tend to flourish when they feel safe and receive plenty of encouragement.
Trade flourished between the two countries after the new agreement was signed.
- thrive
Nearly identical in meaning; 'thrive' is slightly more common for living things, 'flourish' for activities and arts.
- prosper
More focused on financial or material success than on healthy growth.
- bloom
Most often used for people's talents, confidence, or beauty developing, less common for businesses.
文法句型
flourish (no object)
用法筆記
Unlike 'grow' or 'develop', 'flourish' always carries a strongly positive meaning of thriving. The subject is most often a plant, business, art form, community, or person developing at their best.
常見錯誤
2. to hold up an object and move it in a showy or dramatic way so that people notic
to hold up an object and move it in a showy or dramatic way so that people notice it
Lucas flourished his concert ticket at the entrance and walked straight in.
transitive with ticket/papers as object
Amani burst into the kitchen, flourishing a letter from the university admissions office.
The magician flourished a silk scarf before making a coin disappear behind it.
Pedro flourished his pen in the air and then signed the contract with a smile.
Nora flourished a handwritten menu at each guest before taking their order.
文法句型
flourish + object
用法筆記
Not used for gentle or casual waving — 'flourish' implies a deliberate, theatrical movement meant to draw attention. Common objects include tickets, letters, pens, scarves, pieces of paper, or weapons.
常見錯誤
flourish — noun
1. an ornamental curved line or stroke added to handwritten or printed letters to m
an ornamental curved line or stroke added to handwritten or printed letters to make them look more elegant
The calligrapher added a beautiful flourish to the capital letter on the wedding invitation.
countable noun: a flourish on a letter
Emre signed his name with a small flourish beneath the last line of the contract.
The old manuscript was decorated with flourishes and tiny painted flowers in the margins.
Heather practised drawing flourishes along the edges of her notebook during art class.
- curlicue
More informal and slightly whimsical; also refers to a decorative curl in writing.
- embellishment
Broader meaning — any decorative addition, not limited to curved lines in writing.
文法句型
a flourish
plural: flourishes
用法筆記
This sense is specific to writing and printing. When applied more broadly (e.g. 'a flourish of colours' or 'musical flourishes'), it is an extended metaphor rather than the core meaning.
常見錯誤
2. a big, showy movement or gesture that is intended to attract attention or create
a big, showy movement or gesture that is intended to attract attention or create a dramatic effect
Andrés removed the velvet cover with a dramatic flourish, revealing the painting beneath.
phrase: with a dramatic flourish
Xiu finished her dance with a flourish and bowed deeply to the applauding audience.
Mira opened the heavy wooden door with a flourish and welcomed her guests inside.
The chef presented the cake with a great flourish, lifting the silver dome high in the air.
- gesture
Neutral and much broader; any movement of the body to express something.
- display
Focuses on the effect produced rather than the movement itself.
- flourish (through 'with a flourish')
This specific phrase has no exact synonym — 'with a grand gesture' comes closest but lacks the sense of showmanship.
文法句型
with a flourish
in a flourish of + noun
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the phrase 'with a flourish' to describe the manner in which someone does something. The gesture can be grand or small but is always meant to be noticed.