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

If Memphis starts to give Jaren Jackson Jr. more rest, Clarke could prosper. —Eric Wong, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025

Tolbert suggested that Neiman’s in Dallas should prosper going forward, stating that 4 million visitors to downtown are expected in 2026, with the convention center being redeveloped and with some FIFA World Cup soccer games to be held in Dallas. —David Moin, WWD, 25 Feb. 2025

Many investors who prospered from gold’s bull market will be surprised by how profits on their gold investments are taxed. —Bob Carlson, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025

American investments in allies’ security helped keep the peace in formerly unstable parts of the world, allowing democratic societies from Germany to Japan to prosper, by preventing predatory autocracies from destroying them. —Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 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