prosper

verb

pros·​per ˈprä-spər How to pronounce prosper (audio)
prospered; prospering ˈprä-sp(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce prosper (audio)

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

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 After the dramatic conflict that spanned nearly a year, Delvaux prospered at his Brussels shop, which became the official supplier of the Royal Court of Belgium. Ian Malone, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2024 To prosper in the global commercial environment, corporate executives must comprehend and adjust to this digital transformation. Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 But a country powered by clean energy could presumably prosper economically without killing people prematurely. Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2024 This is the perfect way to carry around all those essential garden tools that are needed to help plants grow and prosper in the yard. Taylor Gumm, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2024 The role of Congress should be to reduce the size and scope of the Federal Government, reduce its interference into the economy, markets and our daily lives, and free the American people to prosper. Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024 Mead offerings around Kentucky have prospered with the 2021 opening of Myriad Meadery in Lexington and several wineries around the state that produce mead. Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 24 Jan. 2024 Restoring these funds will further produce the talent that all of Wisconsin needs to prosper. Kelly Meyerhofer, Journal Sentinel, 29 Feb. 2024 Thankfully, the ability to take life’s challenges in stride and still prosper is something science says all of us can learn – and teach our children. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prosper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of prosper was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near prosper

Cite this Entry

“Prosper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prosper. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prosper

verb
pros·​per ˈpräs-pər How to pronounce prosper (audio)
prospered; prospering -p(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce prosper (audio)
1
: to succeed or make money in something one is doing
2
3
: to cause to become prosperous

More from Merriam-Webster on prosper

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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