English Reference
Noun

blooming

n.
B1 Intermediate US /ˈbɫumɪŋ/ UK /blˈuːmɪŋ/ bloom·ing Photography

n.used for emphasis, often in a mild swear. You say it to show strong feeling, like surprise or annoyance.

n.an intensifier used for emphasis, particularly in British English. Often functions as a euphemism for a stronger swear word.


SIMPLE

It is blooming cold outside today.

CONTEXTUAL

She was blooming annoyed that the train was late again.

COMPLEX

The critic described the film as a blooming disaster, noting how the poor script ruined the talented cast.

Usage

Typically used attributively before an adjective or predicatively after a linking verb.


By surface analysis, bloom + -ing.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated