prolific
adjective
pro·lif·ic
prə-ˈli-fik 
1
: producing young or fruit especially freely : fruitful
2
archaic
: causing abundant growth, generation, or reproduction
3
: marked by abundant inventiveness or productivity
a prolific composer
Examples of prolific in a Sentence
Since [David] Mamet is a prolific writer of Hollywood screenplays, there are today more people who know his work than know that they know it.
—
Juliet Fleming, Times Literary Supplement, 18 Feb. 2000
The main rival to his pneumonia was the prolific thrush which went into his throat and stomach.
—Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting, 1993
A writer as established and prolific as Joyce Carol Oates can approach her material in a wealth of ways unavailable to the more plodding.
—Jane Smiley, New York Times Book Review, 5 May 1991
Here there are La restaurants, wine bars, bookshops, estate agents more prolific than doctors, and attractive people in black, few of them aging.
—Hanif Kureishi, Granta 22, Autumn 1987
a famously prolific author who could produce several works of fiction and nonfiction a year
Juliet Fleming, Times Literary Supplement, 18 Feb. 2000
The main rival to his pneumonia was the prolific thrush which went into his throat and stomach.
—Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting, 1993
A writer as established and prolific as Joyce Carol Oates can approach her material in a wealth of ways unavailable to the more plodding.
—Jane Smiley, New York Times Book Review, 5 May 1991
Here there are La restaurants, wine bars, bookshops, estate agents more prolific than doctors, and attractive people in black, few of them aging.
—Hanif Kureishi, Granta 22, Autumn 1987
a famously prolific author who could produce several works of fiction and nonfiction a year
Recent Examples on the Web
Throughout his prolific career in Hollywood, the actor dated fellow A-listers, including Cher, Cindy Crawford and Angelina Jolie.
—Adam England, People.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Although the Bulls benefited from a prolific night of 3-point shooting, Huerter generated most of his offense from the floor.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
Tombstone is streaming on Hulu, Fubo and FX Now.
‘Heat’ (1995)
Val Kilmer stars in the key supporting role of Chris Shiherlis, the right-hand man of prolific thief Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) in Heat, an epic crime thriller written and directed by Michael Mann.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
There was a moment when such industry stalwarts as producer J.J. Abrams or management mogul and L.A. Olympics czar Casey Wasserman, both prolific Democratic bundlers, seemed poised to assume the perch vacated by Katzenberg, but neither has yet met the challenge.
—Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prolific
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adam England, People.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Although the Bulls benefited from a prolific night of 3-point shooting, Huerter generated most of his offense from the floor.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
Tombstone is streaming on Hulu, Fubo and FX Now.
‘Heat’ (1995)
Val Kilmer stars in the key supporting role of Chris Shiherlis, the right-hand man of prolific thief Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) in Heat, an epic crime thriller written and directed by Michael Mann.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
There was a moment when such industry stalwarts as producer J.J. Abrams or management mogul and L.A. Olympics czar Casey Wasserman, both prolific Democratic bundlers, seemed poised to assume the perch vacated by Katzenberg, but neither has yet met the challenge.
—Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prolific
Cite this Entry
“Prolific.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prolific. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prolific
adjective
pro·lif·ic
prə-ˈlif-ik
1
: producing young or fruit in large numbers
a prolific orchard
2
: highly inventive : productive
a prolific writer
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share