1
: a mass of wrought iron from the forge or puddling furnace
2
: a bar of iron or steel hammered or rolled from an ingot
plural blooms
1
a
b
: the flowering state
the roses are in bloom
c
: a period of flowering
the spring bloom
2
a
: a state or time of beauty, freshness, and vigor
b
: a state or time of high development or achievement
a career in full bloom
3
: a surface coating or appearance: such as
a
: a delicate powdery coating on some fruits and leaves
b
: a rosy appearance of the cheeks
broadly
: an outward evidence of freshness or healthy vigor
c
: a cloudiness on a film of varnish or lacquer
d
: a grayish discoloration on chocolate
e
: glare caused by an object reflecting too much light into a television camera
bloomed; blooming; blooms
1
a
: to produce or yield flowers
b
: to support abundant plant life
make the desert bloom
2
a(1)
: to mature into achievement of one's potential
(2)
: to flourish in youthful beauty, freshness, or excellence
b
: to shine out : glow
c
: to become more apparent or fully expressed (as in flavor or aroma)
In all classic sauces and dressings, good oil is the base from which delectable flavors bloom.—
Renée Loux Underkoffler
Renée Loux Underkoffler3
: to appear or occur unexpectedly or in remarkable quantity or degree
4
: to become densely populated with microorganisms and especially plankton
—used of bodies of water
Synonyms
Examples of bloom in a Sentence
Verb
flowers blooming in the garden
Their love was just beginning to bloom.
Recent Examples on the WebLila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
The paper, co-authored with three other professors, had to do with the impact of algae blooms and depletion of coral reefs on the region's tourism industry.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
Those blooms have plagued some Wisconsin lakes and other bodies of water, closing beaches and making conditions unsuitable for recreation.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
Blooms spring through summer; deadhead to keep blooms coming.
—Betty Cahill, The Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Over at the Rubens House museum, currently closed for a renovation, a new garden will open this summer with 17,000 plants chosen under guidance from fashion legend Dries Van Noten and designed for 365 days of bloom.
—Mary Winston Nicklin, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2024
As much as for their beauty, the delicate flowers are known for the fleeting nature of their bloom.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
The cherry blossom tree with sparse branches and a hollow trunk, which has become a sort of icon in Washington, D.C., throughout the years, is currently making its last bloom.
—Jana Kasperkevic, NBC News, 24 Mar. 2024
The earlier blooms illustrate the influence climate change is having across the nation, from earlier springs and longer summers to warmer winters and more intense heat waves and extreme rainfall.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024
Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024
While hydrangeas typically flower in the late spring and summer, planting them in early to mid-spring helps them get established before blooming.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2024
Over the course of an episode, love seemed to be blooming for the pair amid their youthful excursions, which included pinball dates, scooter rides and splashing in kiddie pools.
—Nicole Briese, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
The latest drenching will stoke the already wondrous mix of wildflowers that are blooming from coastal bluffs to desert lowlands.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2024
The festival marks the official kickoff for kite-flying season and for 70 years has been part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, a four-week-long celebration of spring and the District’s trademark blooms.
—Jenna Portnoy, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
While the sun is back and flowers are blooming again, these jackets will keep you stylishly warm for those windier days.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 29 Mar. 2024
The days are getting longer, and the flowers are starting to bloom—the signs of spring are here, and warmer days are just around the corner.
—Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
Stumpy is a scraggly tree that always manages to bloom despite his stature.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 27 Mar. 2024
Noun
Late-arriving rains and cold weather that marked this spring can delay or stymie blooms.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
The paper, co-authored with three other professors, had to do with the impact of algae blooms and depletion of coral reefs on the region's tourism industry.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024
Those blooms have plagued some Wisconsin lakes and other bodies of water, closing beaches and making conditions unsuitable for recreation.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
Blooms spring through summer; deadhead to keep blooms coming.
—Betty Cahill, The Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Over at the Rubens House museum, currently closed for a renovation, a new garden will open this summer with 17,000 plants chosen under guidance from fashion legend Dries Van Noten and designed for 365 days of bloom.
—Mary Winston Nicklin, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2024
As much as for their beauty, the delicate flowers are known for the fleeting nature of their bloom.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
The cherry blossom tree with sparse branches and a hollow trunk, which has become a sort of icon in Washington, D.C., throughout the years, is currently making its last bloom.
—Jana Kasperkevic, NBC News, 24 Mar. 2024
The earlier blooms illustrate the influence climate change is having across the nation, from earlier springs and longer summers to warmer winters and more intense heat waves and extreme rainfall.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2024
Verb
The beach and almond trees bloom and the wheat fields are golden.
—Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Apr. 2024
While hydrangeas typically flower in the late spring and summer, planting them in early to mid-spring helps them get established before blooming.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2024
Over the course of an episode, love seemed to be blooming for the pair amid their youthful excursions, which included pinball dates, scooter rides and splashing in kiddie pools.
—Nicole Briese, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
The latest drenching will stoke the already wondrous mix of wildflowers that are blooming from coastal bluffs to desert lowlands.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2024
The festival marks the official kickoff for kite-flying season and for 70 years has been part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, a four-week-long celebration of spring and the District’s trademark blooms.
—Jenna Portnoy, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
While the sun is back and flowers are blooming again, these jackets will keep you stylishly warm for those windier days.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 29 Mar. 2024
The days are getting longer, and the flowers are starting to bloom—the signs of spring are here, and warmer days are just around the corner.
—Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
Stumpy is a scraggly tree that always manages to bloom despite his stature.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bloom.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English blome lump of metal, from Old English blōma
Noun (2)
Middle English blome, from Old Norse blōm; akin to Old English blōwan to blossom — more at blow
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of bloom was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing bloom
Articles Related to bloom
Dictionary Entries Near bloom
Cite this Entry
“Bloom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bloom. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
bloom
1 of 2 noun1
b
: the period or state of flowering
the roses are in bloom
c
: an excessive growth of plankton
2
b
: a state or time of beauty, freshness, and strength
3
a
: a delicate powdery coating especially on some fruits and leaves
b
: a rosy appearance of the cheeks
Biographical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on bloom
Nglish: Translation of bloom for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of bloom for Arabic Speakers
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