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

Seventy years later, Jews continue to prosper, and the jeers have only grown louder. —Rachel Gordan, Sun Sentinel, 17 June 2025

The genre’s eighties pioneers never got near the pop charts, though a couple of bands with hardcore roots, the Beastie Boys and Rage Against the Machine, prospered far away from the scene. —Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 11 June 2025

Some of Epstein's other young discoveries had also prospered under his management. —New Atlas, 9 June 2025

Reducing or eliminating the lot-size requirement would support growth and allow more San Diegans to prosper. —Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025

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