adj B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

blooming

BLOO-mihng

Blooming (adj) means Currently flowering; producing blossoms. Example: “The garden is full of blooming tulips.”

adj

Currently flowering; producing blossoms.

"The garden is full of blooming tulips."

Thriving; full of health and vigour.

"She looked absolutely blooming during her pregnancy."

(British, informal) A mild intensifier used instead of a stronger swear word.

"Where's my blooming umbrella?"

How to use blooming

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFlowering, thriving, or (informally, in the UK) a polite substitute for a stronger swear word.

When to use it

The intensifier sense is a softened, family-friendly alternative to "bloody."

Common pairings

blooming flowers blooming marvellous

Word forms

more blooming comparative, more blooming comparative, bloomings plural, most blooming superlative, most blooming superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The garden is full of _____ tulips.

Etymology

By surface analysis, bloom + -ing.

Rhymes for blooming

coming homing Wyoming zooming booming grooming upcoming oncoming becoming incoming welcoming unbecoming

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Frequently asked questions

What does “blooming” mean?

The word “blooming” means currently flowering; producing blossoms. In plain terms, flowering, thriving, or (informally, in the UK) a polite substitute for a stronger swear word.

How do you pronounce “blooming”?

“Blooming” is pronounced BLOO-mihng (/ˈbluː.mɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “blooming” in a sentence?

Here is “blooming” used in a sentence: “The garden is full of blooming tulips.”

What part of speech is “blooming”?

“Blooming” is an adjective.

Is “blooming” a common word?

“Blooming” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “blooming” have?

“Blooming” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: currently flowering; producing blossoms.