What does lush mean?
Lush describes vegetation that grows thickly, luxuriantly, and often brilliantly green. In landscape writing, it evokes a place enriched by moisture and dense plant life: a valley might be called lush after a season of rain. The word is also used more broadly for colours, sounds, descriptions, and settings that are rich, vivid, or abundant. A lush melody has a full, warm quality, while a lush description may be so detailed and ornamental that it appears extravagant. Although “lush” is sometimes applied to food, especially when it sounds rich or sensuous, its basic association is with vigorous natural growth. The term is common in both British and American English and appears in travel writing, literature, music criticism, and descriptive speech. Its slightly poetic quality makes it more expressive and evocative than simple words such as “green” or “rich.”
Growing thickly and luxuriantly; richly covered with vegetation. By extension, rich, vivid, abundant, or elaborate.
"Lush grasses covered the banks of the river."
Common in both British and American English. The figurative senses usually convey richness and vividness.
To grow or develop luxuriantly, especially when used of vegetation or a landscape.
"The garden lushed after weeks of heavy rain."
This is a literary and relatively uncommon verb, and it is normally intransitive.
The word lush captures the astonishing speed with which rain can turn a dry landscape into a dense, vivid world of green.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lush come from?
The adjective comes from Middle English, where forms resembling lush were recorded in the sense of luxuriant growth. Its ultimate origin is associated with an Old English root meaning succulent or luxuriant, with a related Germanic form surviving in Dutch. The modern figurative senses developed from the original association with abundant vegetation.
Related word forms
How lush is actually used
Lush is widely used in literary and descriptive contexts. It is usually positive, suggesting fertility, beauty, and abundance, though it can occasionally suggest excessive richness or ornamentation.
Easily confused with lush
Lush means luxuriant or abundant, whereas lash chiefly means to strike or fasten with a cord, though it also means a long narrow strip.