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

Recently, Arias has prospered at Triple-A Columbus. —Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

The company prospered, in part, by accepting commissions for spec office space—for buildings that would house unidentified future occupants, in deals put together by real-estate developers. —Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025

This will include working in close coordination with our Arab & Israeli partners to ensure Gaza can one day prosper. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 12 Jan. 2025

Stroud is a quiet yet influential power broker, adept at nurturing deep, resilient roots that allow others to thrive and prosper. —Noel Burgess, Forbes, 20 Jan. 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