prosper
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /prˈɒspə/
US
- /ˈprɑspər/
Description
- do well
- thrive
- flourish
- grow rich
Imagine a tiny seed planted in fertile ground. With sunshine, water, and care, it does not just survive - it grows strong and does well. To prosper means to succeed, often in money matters, but also to grow in a healthy and steady way. A business may prosper with good management, and a town may prosper when people work well together. It is more than simply getting by; it is about growing, improving, and reaching a better state in life.
To prosper means to thrive, succeed, or flourish, often in terms of wealth, health, or general well-being. It suggests more than simple survival. It describes a person, group, place, or activity that grows stronger, healthier, or more successful over time. For example, "The small town prospered after the new factory opened" means that the town gained jobs, money, and better living conditions.
Prosper can also apply to individuals. "She prospered in her career" means she moved ahead and found success in her work. But the idea is not always only about money. A family can prosper when life becomes safer and more comfortable. The arts can prosper when artists have support and freedom to create. In this way, the word often carries the sense of healthy growth, success, and good results.
Historically, the word comes from the Latin prosperare, meaning "to make successful" or "to cause to thrive." That history helps explain its tone: the word often suggests both good fortune and steady progress. You can use it in economic, personal, social, or cultural contexts whenever the idea is clear growth and success.
So, whether you are talking about money, personal well-being, or the growth of a community, to prosper is to move beyond mere survival and into a period of clear improvement. It is the kind of success that keeps developing over time, not just a brief lucky moment.
Examples
- 1
Small business
Her family prospered after they opened a small restaurant.
- 2
Tourism
Many local businesses prospered during the summer tourist season.
- 3
Growing conditions
Plants like this prosper in warm, wet soil.
- 4
Leadership
The city prospered under his leadership.
Pattern
under + person's leadership
while that person was in charge
- 5
Creative freedom
Creativity prospers where people are free to take risks.
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- prosperverb
Forms
- prosperedpast tenseverb
- prospering-ing formverb
- prospersverb