thrive

verb

ˈthrīv 

thrived or throve ˈthrōv  ; thrived also thriven ˈthri-vən  ; thriving ˈthrī-viŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to grow vigorously : flourish

thriving emotionally/intellectually/spiritually

Many annuals and perennials need plenty of sunlight to thrive.

—Lauren David

2

: to gain in wealth or possessions : prosper

One restaurant thriving as lower income consumers pull back is Olive Garden.

—Francisco Velasquez

3

: to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances

thrives under pressure

—often used with on

thrives on conflict

thriver

ˈthrī-vər 

noun

Synonyms of thrive

• flourish
• prosper

Examples of thrive in a Sentence

these plants thrive with relatively little sunlight

going to a school for gifted students will help him thrive as a musical prodigy

Recent Examples on the Web

The season then followed Maggie’s attempt to not only turn New York into a thriving safe haven, but to turn herself into a thriving person as well. — Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

Sixteen storms, including two Category 5 hurricanes, have formed and thrived in the eastern and central parts of the ocean so far, with Hawaii alone facing three tropical systems in less than a month. — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

The organizations that thrive will use AI to elevate work, not replace the human experiences that drive engagement and culture. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Collins thrived with the Atlanta Hawks alongside Trae Young, another scoring guard who prioritizes facilitation, in the beginning of his career. — Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old Norse thrīfask, probably reflexive of thrīfa to grasp

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing thrive

• thrive on

Rhymes for thrive

• dive
• drive
• five
• hive
• jive
• live
• strive
• alive
• archive
• arrive
• beehive
• connive

Kids Definition

thrive

verb

ˈthrīv 

thrived or throve ˈthrōv  ; thrived also thriven ˈthriv-ən  ; thriving ˈthrī-viŋ 

1

: to grow vigorously : do well : flourish

2

: to gain in wealth or possessions : prosper