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verb B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

prosper

PROS-puh

Prosper (verb) means to succeed or do well, especially financially. Example: “The small business prospered after moving to the new location.”

verb
1
To succeed or do well, especially financially.
"The small business prospered after moving to the new location."
"They hoped their children would prosper in life."

How to use prosper

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo do well and succeed, especially in business or in life generally.

Common pairings
prosper in business the economy prospers live and prosper

Word forms

prospered past tense, prospers singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The small business _____ after moving to the new location.

Etymology

From Old French prosperer, from Latin prospero ("to make happy/successful"), from prosperus ("favourable"), ultimately tied to the Latin spes ("hope").

Origin: Latin

do well do well for oneself gain grow thrive flourish succeed

Antonyms

decline fail fall on hard times fall go awry go downhill go pear-shaped go to pot

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “prosper” mean?

The word “prosper” means to succeed or do well, especially financially. In plain terms, to do well and succeed, especially in business or in life generally.

How do you pronounce “prosper”?

“Prosper” is pronounced PROS-puh (/ˈpɹɑspɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “prosper” in a sentence?

Here is “prosper” used in a sentence: “The small business prospered after moving to the new location.”

What is another word for “prosper”?

Words with a similar meaning to “prosper” include do well, do well for oneself, gain, grow, thrive and flourish.

What is the opposite of “prosper”?

The opposite of “prosper” — its antonyms — are decline, fail, fall on hard times, fall and go awry.

What part of speech is “prosper”?

“Prosper” is a verb.

Where does the word “prosper” come from?

The word “prosper” comes from Latin. From Old French prosperer, from Latin prospero ("to make happy/successful"), from prosperus ("favourable"), ultimately tied to the Latin spes ("hope").

Is “prosper” a common word?

“Prosper” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial