prosper

verb pros·per \ ˈprä-spər \

|Updated on: 19 Jul 2018

Examples: prosper in a Sentence

prospered; prospering play \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

See prosper defined for English-language learners

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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 of prosper from the Web

By 1920, many of the Irish had prospered enough to move to other parts of the city, and Corktown began to fill up with new immigrants from Mexico and the Mediterranean island of Malta.

— john gallagher, Detroit Free Press, "Here's what you might not know about Corktown's history," 9 July 2018
That approach to life is how Trump has weathered -- and even prospered! -- amid three bankruptcies and as many marriages.

— chris cillizza, CNN, "Donald Trump's fake-it-until-you-make-it strategy on North Korea," 13 June 2018
Vanderbilt or Kentucky or Arkansas may have a solid cornerback who prospers for two or three seasons at that school.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Nick Saban Doesn't Make the Transfer Rules; He Just Wants the SEC to Agree on Them," 29 May 2018
Beechwood, 18-8 through Friday, has prospered with a balanced attack and pitching staff.

— shelby dermer, Cincinnati.com, "Takeaways: Baseball, softball postseason in full swing," 12 May 2018
Then there is the problem of übersmart, creative, hardworking people who never prosper, so obviously there are additional factors that determine life outcomes, such as bad luck ... and bad choices.

— michael shermer, Scientific American, "Does Success Come Mostly from Talent, Hard Work—or Luck?," 1 Nov. 2017
Barely a year later, soccer was the game that survived and prospered.

— leo robson, The New Yorker, "How We Watch Soccer Now," 5 Dec. 2016
In Canada, the elder Krauthammer prospered as a real estate executive.

— adam bernstein, Anchorage Daily News, "Charles Krauthammer, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and intellectual provocateur, dies at 68," 21 June 2018
The restaurant, which became Brennan's Vieux Carré Restaurant, prospered, but a challenge arose: The lease would expire at the end of May 1956, so the family would have to find a new spot.

— john pope, NOLA.com, "Ella Brennan, renowned New Orleans restaurateur, dies at 92," 31 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prosper.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of prosper

Middle English, from Anglo-French prosperer, from Latin prosperare to cause to succeed, from prosperus favorable

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

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prosper Synonyms

Phrases

come into one's own, cut it, cut the mustard, get ahead, get somewhere, get there, hack it, hit it big, make good, make it, make one's mark, make the grade;

PROSPER Defined for English Language Learners

prosper

verb

: to become very successful usually by making a lot of money
: to become very active, healthy, or strong

PROSPER Defined for Kids

prosper

verb pros·per \ ˈprä-spər \

prospered; prospering

1 : to become successful usually by making money

2 : ¹flourish 1, thrive

Learn More about prosper

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