English Reference

Word

blossom

Phoneticsblos·som

US/ˈbɫɑsəm/

UK/blˈɒsəm/

Definitions

01tree flowers

B1

n. a flower on a tree or bush, especially one that will later turn into fruit.

n. a flower, especially one on a fruit tree; often used collectively to describe a mass of such flowers.

“The apple trees are covered in pink blossom this spring.”

“The cherry blossom drifted across the park like snow, coating the pathways in a delicate layer of white petals.”

Usage

Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to a mass of flowers on a single tree.

Synonyms

02to produce flowers

B2

v. when a tree or plant produces flowers.

v. to produce or open into flowers; to bloom.

“The cherry trees usually blossom in late March or early April.”

“The orchards began to blossom simultaneously, filling the valley with a heavy, sweet fragrance that attracted bees from miles away.”

Usage

This verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

Synonyms

Antonyms

03to develop or flourish

B2

v. to grow, improve, or become more successful and confident.

v. to develop or flourish into a state of beauty, health, or prosperity.

“She really blossomed into a confident speaker during her time at university.”

“Their friendship blossomed into a successful business partnership that lasted for over thirty years.”

Usage

Frequently used with the preposition 'into' to describe a transformation.

Antonyms

Real-World Examples

“NASA’s new commercial Mars strategy is starting to blossom.”
Ars Technica · 1 Sept 2026
“Researchers suspect they have so far benefited from rising temperatures, in part because there is less late-frost damage to their blossoms, allowing them to produce more fruit.”
Phys.org · 19 Aug 2026

Idioms

blossom out — To blossom, to show beauty.

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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English Reference