# burgeoning

/ˈbɝdʒənɪŋ/ (US) · /bˈɜːdʒənɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/burgeoning
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. growing quickly

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

growing or developing very quickly.

For teachers: expanding or developing rapidly and successfully. Often used as an attributive adjective before a noun to describe a field of interest or a market.

- The city has a burgeoning tech industry that attracts many young workers.
- The burgeoning demand for sustainable energy has prompted significant investment in offshore wind farms across the region.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it describes.

Teaching tip: This is a sophisticated word for 'growing'. It carries a positive connotation of success and energy.

### 2. new growth

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

the act of starting to grow or expand.

For teachers: the process of budding, sprouting, or beginning a period of rapid expansion.

- The burgeoning of the suburbs changed the landscape of the valley.
- Historians often point to the burgeoning of trade routes in the late Middle Ages as a catalyst for cultural exchange.

Usage: Often used as a gerund followed by 'of'.

Teaching tip: The noun form is much rarer than the adjective; students should focus on the adjective 'burgeoning' first.

## Examples

- The city has a burgeoning tech industry.
- Investors are looking for opportunities in the burgeoning renewable energy sector as global demand for green power rises.
- The burgeoning middle class in the region has led to a dramatic increase in demand for luxury goods and international travel services.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.