Burgeon
What it means
To begin growing or developing rapidly.
Reach for it when describing visible expansion at an early or accelerating stage
Repair cooperatives began to burgeon around the technical college.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
|
-
playful
take off
Fits when activity or success begins rising quickly
Careful Take off is informal and may refer to one sudden commercial success.
-
everyday
Fits when plain increase in size or maturity is enough
Careful Grow gives no sense of rapid acceleration.
-
warm
Fits when growth also looks healthy and successful
Careful Flourish implies wellbeing, while burgeon can describe unchecked expansion.
-
professional
expand
Fits when capacity, scope, or reach becomes larger
Careful Expansion may be planned and steady rather than organic or rapid.
-
formal
proliferate
Fits when numbers multiply rapidly across an area
Careful Proliferate often carries concern about excessive or unwanted growth.
-
literary
Fits when potential develops into visible beauty or ability
Careful Blossom suits people and creative work better than markets or infrastructure.
Opposites 3
- shrink
- wither
- stagnate
Common phrases 3
-
begin to burgeon
Small studios begin to burgeon once the shared kiln opens.
-
burgeon into
The monthly exchange may burgeon into a permanent repair market.
-
burgeon rapidly
Wildflowers burgeon rapidly after the first warm rain.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, California accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5 Updated