blushing

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/ˈblʌʃɪŋ/
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The act of turning red in the face, the bodily response behind it, and a rosy or shy-looking appearance.
Practice using blushing in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • The child started blushing when everyone clapped.
  • The roses had a blushing tint at the edge of each petal.
  • A blushing glow spread across the evening sky.
  • Blushing can happen suddenly in a quiet room.
  • Deep breathing helped reduce his blushing.

Similar words

glowing
rosy
flushing
flush
coloring
reddened
blush
reddening
pink
flushing

Meanings

Turning red from feeling

verb
emotion
neutral
Becoming pink or red in the face because of embarrassment, shame, modesty, pleasure, or another strong feeling.

Usage

Use blushing as the active -ing form when someone is in the act of turning red in the face.

Examples

  • She was blushing after the unexpected compliment.
  • He kept blushing whenever the story came up.
  • The child started blushing when everyone clapped.
  • I could feel myself blushing during the interview.
  • They noticed him blushing before he answered.

Common mistakes

The -ing form is treated as if it could replace every form of blush.
IncorrectCorrect
She blushing when he complimented her. She was blushing when he complimented her.
He blushing every time he speaks. He blushes every time he speaks.
I am blushing my cheeks with makeup. I am applying blush to my cheeks.

Similar words

reddening
flushing
coloring
glowing

Facial reddening

noun
physiology
neutral
The act or bodily response of the face becoming red, usually from self-conscious emotion and increased blood flow.

Usage

Use blushing as a noun for the response itself, especially when discussing causes, frequency, or social effects.

Examples

  • Blushing can happen suddenly in a quiet room.
  • Her frequent blushing made presentations stressful.
  • The study measured blushing during social tasks.
  • Deep breathing helped reduce his blushing.
  • The doctor distinguished blushing from flushing caused by heat.

Common mistakes

The noun is confused with broader flushing or with makeup called blush.
IncorrectCorrect
Blushing is the powder on her cheeks. Blush is the powder on her cheeks.
The fever caused emotional blushing across his chest. The fever caused flushing across his chest.
Her blushing were obvious. Her blushing was obvious.

Similar words

flushing
reddening
blush
flush

Rosy or shy-looking

adjective
appearance
neutral
Pink, rosy, or marked by a blush, sometimes suggesting shyness, modesty, or youthful innocence.

Usage

Use blushing before a noun for a face, cheek, color, or conventional image that looks pink or shy.

Examples

  • The blushing bride smiled at the guests.
  • His blushing cheeks gave away the secret.
  • She chose a blushing pink dress for the party.
  • The roses had a blushing tint at the edge of each petal.
  • A blushing glow spread across the evening sky.

Common mistakes

The adjective is applied to things that cannot show color, shyness, or a rosy tone.
IncorrectCorrect
She gave a blushing answer to the math problem. She gave a shy answer to the math problem.
The walls were blushing loudly. The walls were painted a blushing pink.
He wore a blushing blue jacket. He wore a soft pink jacket.

Similar words

rosy
flushed
pink
reddened
bashful

Usage

Use blushing freely in is blushing and other continuous verb forms, as a noun for the response, or as an adjective for a rosy appearance.

Common mistakes

She blushing drops the needed auxiliary, while is blushing is correct for the continuous verb form.

Etymology

From blush plus the -ing suffix. Blush is a Middle English word related to older Germanic words for shining, burning, or becoming red.

FAQ

What does blushing mean?

Blushing means turning red in the face, usually because of embarrassment, modesty, pleasure, or self-conscious feeling.

Is is blushing correct?

Yes. Is blushing is the normal present continuous form of the verb blush.

Can blushing be a noun?

Yes. Blushing can name the bodily response or the act of becoming red in the face.

Can blushing be an adjective?

Yes. It can describe rosy cheeks, a shy-looking person, or a soft pink color.

What is the difference between blushing and flushing?

Blushing is usually emotional and centered on the face, while flushing can be broader and caused by heat, illness, alcohol, or other triggers.

Does blushing always mean embarrassment?

No. Embarrassment is common, but blushing can also follow pleasure, modesty, pride, or self-conscious attention.

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