prosper

[pros-per]

verb (used without object)

1. to be successful or fortunate, especially in financial respects; thrive; flourish.

   Antonyms: fail

verb (used with object)

1. Archaic.,  to make successful or fortunate.

prosper

/ ˈprɒspə /

verb

1. (usually intr) to thrive, succeed, etc, or cause to thrive, succeed, etc in a healthy way

Other Word Forms

• unprospered adjective
• unprospering adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosper¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English prosperen, Old French prosperer, from Latin prosperāre “to make happy,” derivative of prosperus prosperous

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosper¹

C15: from Latin prosperāre to succeed, from prosperus fortunate, from _pro- ¹ + spēs hope

Synonym Study

See succeed.

Example Sentences

Why it is so hard for away teams to prosper at alternate shot is hard to fathom.

From BBC

Since then, children and grandchildren have gone to school, worked, prospered and contributed.

From Los Angeles Times

To prosper in this competition, they are going to have to be clinical.

From BBC

They’re too focused on raising families and trying to prosper in these hard times to post a hot take on social media about political personalities they barely know.

From Los Angeles Times

"After so many years, I haven't had much development for myself. Some migrants have prospered - those who went to Korea, the US, or Malaysia. Not people like us."

From BBC

Related Words

• bloom 
• blossom 
• catch on 
• do well 
• flourish 
• multiply 
• thrive 

When To Use

What does prosper mean?

Prosper means to be successful or fortunate, especially in a financial or material way.Prosper often implies success in terms of wealth, health, and happiness. But it can also be used broadly, much like the words succeed, thrive, and flourish.You can say that someone is prospering in the present, but the word is perhaps most commonly used in the context of what will happen in the future.Prosper is associated with its use in the phrase “live long and prosper,” the catchphrase of the character Spock in the Star Trek series of TV shows and movies.Someone who prospers can be described as prosperous. The noun prosperity refers to a state of success.Example: If we can continue to maintain this level of quality, our company will continue to prosper.