prosper
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
Usage
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.
Synonym Usage
See succeed.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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prospersimple
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prosperssimple
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have prosperedperfect
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has prosperedperfect
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am prosperingprogressive
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are prosperingprogressive
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is prosperingprogressive
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have been prosperingperfect progressive
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has been prosperingperfect progressive
Past
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prosperedsimple
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had prosperedperfect
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was prosperingprogressive
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were prosperingprogressive
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had been prosperingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of prosper
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English prosperen, Old French prosperer, from Latin prosperāre “to make happy,” derivative of prosperus prosperous
Explanation
As any fan of Star Trek knows, “live long and prosper” is good advice. The verb prosper means to do well, succeed, or thrive. The verb prosper commonly means to generate wealth, as in “she hopes to prosper from her new investments.” But more generally it means “grow stronger” or "flourish" — crops will prosper when they have adequate sun and water, and rescued animals can prosper in a loving home. You can also prosper from good advice or a wise decision: for example, “cheaters never prosper” is one piece of advice that might help you prosper.
Vocabulary lists containing prosper
NAEP Test Words
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The Call of the Wild
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Donald Trump Inauguration Address- January 20, 2017
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The market needs time and investment to prosper, Lewis said at Diageo’s half-year results in February.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026
No member is above the rules in a gang that lives by the importance of “equality” and “union,” but anyone can prosper as long as they remain loyal, said Manso.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 2026
The railroads also tapped into the wealth of retail investors, targeting merchants and farmers along the routes who stood to prosper.
From Barron's ● Apr. 15, 2026
He said the bank and local communities “can work together” to help people prosper by buying homes and getting higher-paying jobs.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 31, 2026
And likewise, two men prosper equally employing two different means, one being cautious and the other impetuous.
From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli
Yet to our mind the remarkable news of this anniversary is that our free republic has stood for a quarter millennium and prospers still.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
Western analysts say the counteroffensive, even if it prospers, won’t end the war which started with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 4, 2023
Now the area prospers largely from the tourist trade.
From Seattle Times ● May 22, 2023
Who lives, who dies; who suffers, who prospers: The world is a riddle.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 26, 2023
St Emilion is now secure under his patronage, and the convent prospers as a result of my commerce with the local merchants and farmers, so Mother Ermentrude and the bishop are pleased.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Unyoked from racial prejudices and prohibitions, Eston’s progeny prospered.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
Nor does she mention such New York City clubs as El Morocco or the Stork Club that prospered after drinking once again became legal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Since leaving England he has prospered in franchise cricket, ending Royal Challengers Bengaluru's wait for Indian Premier League success with consecutive titles in 2025 and 2026 and winning The Hundred with Trent Rockets in 2022.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026
Americans made things, and prospered in the making of them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 10, 2026
If they prospered, they thanked God for His kindness.
From "Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction" by David Macaulay
Fundamentally superior stocks are prospering from a stunning earnings environment as well as a booming domestic economy.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
“If we do all that, and everybody’s prospering and they’re all a part of it, and there’s upside for everybody, that’s going to naturally be a bulwark against future conflicts there. Because everybody’s thriving.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 29, 2025
Brazil is pushing the idea of building a prospering economy by sustainably using natural resources, preserving nature to protect the vitality of the land, and developing valuable products including fuels, pharmaceuticals, and foods.
From BBC ● Nov. 16, 2025
AEG is prospering by executing a fairly simple business plan, said Andrew Zimbalist, professor emeritus of economics at Smith College.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2025
The human beings did not hate Animal Farm any less now that it was prospering; indeed, they hated it more than ever.
From "Animal Farm: A Fairy Story" by George Orwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
