lush
gb/lˈʌʃ/ us/lˈʌʃ/
B2
English
dús, buja, gazdag, iszákos, nagyivó, szuper, klassz, becsípett, részeg
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[place/area] is lush (with [plants/vegetation])
After the rains, the hills turned lush and green.
Az esők után a dombok dúsan kizöldültek.
They rented a cabin surrounded by lush forest.
Egy dús erdővel körülvett faházat béreltek.
The riverbanks are lush with reeds and wildflowers in spring.
Learner examples
The park is lush in summer.
Nyáron dús a növényzet a parkban.
The valley looks lush after the rain.
Eső után a völgy dúsnak és zöldnek látszik.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "lush" just to mean "green"; it usually suggests thick, abundant growth.
Meaning
rich with healthy plant growth
Collocations
lush vegetation
|lush greenery
|lush forest
|lush garden
|lush hillside
|lush valley
|lush rainforest
|lush plants
|lush growth
|lush green landscape
Synonyms
luxuriant (More formal; strongly suggests vigorous growth.)
|
verdant (More literary; emphasizes greenness.)
|
leafy (Focuses on having many leaves, not necessarily overall richness.)
Antonyms
barren (Without plants or growth.)
|
sparse (Thin or scattered rather than thick.)
|
dry (Lacking moisture; often results in less growth.)
Themes
nature
|environment
|travel
Definition
full of healthy green plants
Growing thickly and strongly, with a lot of healthy green plants.
B2
2
Usage pattern:
lush [sound/voice/texture/flavor/room/hotel]
The album is filled with lush strings and warm harmonies.
Az album tele van gazdag vonóshangzással és meleg harmóniákkal.
She served a lush chocolate cake with fresh cream.
Gazdag csokoládétortát szolgált fel friss tejszínnel.
The suite had lush curtains and deep, soft carpets.
Learner examples
The music sounds lush.
A zene gazdagon és telten szól.
This dessert is lush and creamy.
Ez a desszert gazdag és krémes.
Common mistake:
"Lush" can describe sounds, colors, or textures—not only plants. Don’t confuse it with "plush" (soft and expensive-looking).
Meaning
pleasantly rich and luxurious
Collocations
lush sound
|lush harmonies
|lush orchestration
|lush voice
|lush textures
|lush colors
|lush fabrics
|lush carpet
|lush dessert
|lush hotel
Synonyms
luxurious (Often about comfort and expense rather than sensory richness.)
|
opulent (Stronger; suggests impressive wealth and display.)
|
sumptuous (Often used for food or decoration; rich and impressive.)
Antonyms
plain (Simple, without richness or luxury.)
|
austere (Deliberately plain and lacking comfort.)
|
thin (Especially for sound or flavor; lacking fullness.)
Themes
food_and_drink
|arts
|lifestyle
Definition
very rich and enjoyable (sound, taste, style, etc.)
Very rich, full, or luxurious in a way that is pleasing to the senses.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
a lush
He was known around the neighborhood as a lush who spent every afternoon at the bar.
A környéken úgy ismerték, mint egy iszákost, aki minden délutánt a bárban töltött.
The film portrays him as a charming lush who can’t stay sober for long.
A film egy sármos iszákosként ábrázolja, aki nem tud sokáig józan maradni.
She didn’t want to label him a lush, but his drinking was clearly out of control.
Learner examples
He is a lush.
Ő egy iszákos.
A lush drinks a lot of alcohol.
Egy iszákos sok alkoholt iszik.
Common mistake:
This noun is informal and can sound judgmental; in careful writing, prefer "alcoholic" or "heavy drinker."
Meaning
an alcoholic; a heavy drinker
Collocations
a hopeless lush
|a local lush
|an old lush
|a town lush
|known as a lush
Synonyms
drunkard (Old-fashioned and judgmental; similar meaning.)
|
alcoholic (More neutral/clinical; can imply addiction.)
|
boozer (Informal; focuses on drinking habit rather than addiction.)
Antonyms
teetotaler (Someone who never drinks alcohol.)
|
nondrinker (Neutral term for someone who does not drink.)
Themes
health
|daily_life
Definition
a person who drinks too much alcohol
A person who regularly drinks too much alcohol; a heavy drinker.
B2
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
That's lush. / lush [day/place/thing]
We had a lush evening by the sea.
Szuper estét töltöttünk a tengerparton.
That new café is lush—let’s go again.
Az az új kávézó szuper — menjünk el megint.
The weather was lush all weekend.
Learner examples
The view is lush.
Szuper a kilátás.
We had a lush day.
Szuper napunk volt.
Common mistake:
This sense is mainly British and informal; it may sound unusual in American English.
Meaning
very nice; enjoyable (informal)
Collocations
lush day
|lush weather
|lush view
|lush place
|lush time
|lush weekend
Synonyms
lovely (More general and widely used; less slangy.)
|
great (Very common; less specific and less British.)
|
gorgeous (Often about appearance; stronger emphasis on beauty.)
Antonyms
awful (Very bad or unpleasant.)
|
grim (Informal (BrE); unpleasant or depressing.)
Themes
emotions
|daily_life
Definition
very nice; very enjoyable
Very pleasant, nice, or enjoyable.
C1
INFORMAL
5
Usage pattern:
lush (on [alcohol])
He got a little lush at the office party.
Kicsit becsípett az irodai bulin.
By midnight they were all pretty lush.
Éjfélre már mind eléggé becsíptek voltak.
She sounded lush on the phone and kept repeating herself.
Learner examples
He is lush.
Becsípett.
She felt lush after two drinks.
Két ital után becsípettnek érezte magát.
Common mistake:
More common to say "drunk" or "tipsy"; "lush" is more often a noun meaning a heavy drinker.
Meaning
drunk (informal, less common)
Collocations
lush on beer
|lush on whiskey
|a bit lush
Synonyms
drunk (Most common and neutral informal term.)
|
tipsy (Mildly drunk.)
|
intoxicated (More formal.)
Antonyms
sober (Not drunk.)
Themes
daily_life
|health
Definition
drunk
Drunk from alcohol.
Grammar
Dictionary form
lush
IPA
GB/lˈʌʃ/
US/lˈʌʃ/
Syllables & stress
lush (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (lush)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: lush
- Comparative: lusher
- Superlative: lushest
Noun
- Base: lush
- Plural: lushes
Word family
Expressions
live the lush life
1/lˈɪv ðə lˈʌʃ lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
informal
live in luxury and pleasure
live a very luxurious life
Examples
- After the promotion, he started living the lush life—fancy hotels, great food, and first-class flights.
- They moved to the coast and tried to live the lush life on a tight budget.
- The ad promises you can live the lush life for less.
Learner examples
- She wants to live the lush life.
- They are living the lush life now.
lush with
1/lˈʌʃ wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
full of plants or growth
full of many healthy plants
Examples
- The slopes are lush with ferns after the wet season.
- In spring, the gardens are lush with roses and jasmine.
- The riverbanks are lush with tall grasses.
Learner examples
- The garden is lush with flowers.
- The hills are lush with trees.