budding
adjective C1
Plain meaning
beginning to develop skill, talent, or interest
Exam-register meaning
In academic or exam contexts, it means beginning to develop skill, talent, or interest, usually in a more formal register.
In context
naturalHis response sounded budding, so the conversation became difficult.
examThe passage presents a budding assessment of the policy’s wider consequences.
Common collocations
a budding responsebudding behavioura budding situation
Watch out
Do not use “very budding” automatically; some advanced adjectives already carry a strong meaning or need a more natural intensifier.
Word family
buddingness (noun, where natural)buddingly (adverb, where natural)