prosper

verb

pros·​per ˈprä-spər 

prospered; prospering ˈprä-sp(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to succeed in an enterprise or activity

especially : to achieve economic success

2

: to become strong and flourishing

transitive verb

: to cause to succeed or thrive

Synonyms

• burgeon
• bourgeon
• flourish
• thrive

Examples of prosper in a Sentence

She prospered as a real estate agent.

He hopes his business will prosper.

No crop can prosper in this heat.

Recent Examples on the Web

From the Great Depression or the Subprime Meltdown of 2008, one takeaway stays true: The poorest are usually the hardest hit while the richest often prosper. —Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 31 May 2024

Businesses will best prosper on a planet that is not impoverished by a climate crisis, as well as in stable communities with lower levels of inequality, a vibrant middle class, and a respect for fundamental human rights. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 30 May 2024

Combating stigma is necessary not merely to reduce the physical and psychological harms of syphilis, but also to achieve the social solidarity necessary for health to prosper. —Jacob D. Moses and Allan M. Brandt, STAT, 30 May 2024

The budget blames stubborn inflation and the high interest rates imposed by the Federal Reserve System to tame inflation for California’s slowdown, but economies of other states have experienced the same factors and prospered despite them. —Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 21 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English prosperen, borrowed from Anglo-French prosperer "to promote, foster, be fortunate or successful," borrowed from Latin prosperāre "to cause to succeed, further" (Medieval Latin also, in passive, "to be granted success, succeed"), verbal derivative of prosperus "agreeable to one's wishes, successful, prosperous"

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Kids Definition

prosper

verb

pros·​per ˈpräs-pər 

prospered; prospering -p(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to succeed or make money in something one is doing

2

: thrive sense 1, flourish

3

: to cause to become prosperous