English Reference

Word

flourished

Phoneticsflour·ished

US/ˈfɫɝɪʃt/

UK/flˈʌɹɪʃt/

Definition

v. to grow or develop very successfully. You use this when a person, business, or plant is doing great and getting stronger.

v. to grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favourable environment. Often used metaphorically to describe businesses, cultures, or artistic movements.

Examples

“The small business flourished after moving to the city center.”

“The local arts scene flourished during the summer months as tourists flocked to the coastal galleries.”

“Historians argue that the trade route allowed diverse cultures to interact, creating a unique environment where philosophy and science flourished for centuries before the empire's eventual decline.”

Examples

simple

“The small business flourished after moving to the city center.”

contextual

“The local arts scene flourished during the summer months as tourists flocked to the coastal galleries.”

complex

“Historians argue that the trade route allowed diverse cultures to interact, creating a unique environment where philosophy and science flourished for centuries before the empire's eventual decline.”

Usage

Intransitive; does not take a direct object.

Pitfall

The company flourished its profits

The company's profits flourished

In this sense, the verb is intransitive and cannot take an object; the thing that is growing must be the subject.

Real-World Examples

“The team says it appears that meteorite ring fashion flourished in the Late Bronze Age, then disappeared before or around the collapse of the Mycenaean palace system.”
Phys.org · 14 Aug 2026
“Throughout the ’70s, soap operas flourished, thanks in part to the work of Phillips’ protégés, Nixon and Bell.”
Smithsonian Magazine · 16 Jun 2026
“Aided by the rapid urban and economic growth of the late 19th century, the model flourished.”
The Conversation · 11 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/flourished

English Reference