Definition
To grow or develop strongly and successfully; to be in a healthy, active state.
Example
The small bakery flourished after the new owner arrived.
Show translation
The small bakery grew very successful after the new owner arrived.
Etymology
From Old French *floriss-*, the extended stem of *florir* ("to flower"), from Latin *florēre* ("to bloom, to flower"), derived from *flos* ("flower"). The sense shifted from literal blooming of plants to figurative thriving of people, businesses, and ideas — a journey that mirrors how the word itself grew beyond its botanical roots.
Cultural note
In addition to the verb meaning "to thrive," *flourish* also functions as a noun referring to an elaborate decorative gesture or ornament — a trumpeter plays a *flourish*, a writer ends a signature with a *flourish*. This dual life (quiet growth + dramatic display) makes the word surprisingly versatile in English. Don't confuse it with *perish*, its near-opposite, which shares a similar formal register.