NYT Dictionary

BLOOM

/blum/
NounVerbBLOOMGrade 4

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Meaning

A blossom; the flower of a plant; an expanded bud.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

From Middle English blome, from Old Norse blóm, from Proto-Germanic *blōmô (“flower”). Doublet of bloom (“spongy mass of metal”); see there for more.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

blossomflowerprimeflushglowproofrehydrateflourishthriveblooming

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 10 recorded puzzles:

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