prosper
B2Formal to neutral; common in business, academic, and elevated everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
to be successful, especially financially; to thrive and do well
To flourish in a broader sense—growing, developing favorably, or achieving success in various aspects of life (e.g., health, relationships, projects).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies sustained or growing success over time, not just a single achievement. Can be used both transitively ("policies that prosper the nation") and intransitively ("the business prospered").
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation follow standard UK/US patterns.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in everyday American English; equally common in business contexts in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties; perhaps slightly more frequent in UK financial/news contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
S V (intransitive)S V O (transitive, rare)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “prosper and multiply (biblical/archaic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe companies, markets, or economies growing successfully.
Academic
Appears in economics, history, and social sciences discussing development.
Everyday
Used for personal success, family well-being, or community growth.
Technical
Rare in hard sciences; occasional in economics or sociology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The region prospered during the industrial revolution.
- Small businesses may prosper under the new scheme.
American English
- The tech sector has prospered in recent years.
- We hope our children will prosper in their careers.
adverb
British English
- The business is running prosperously.
- They lived prosperously after the inheritance.
American English
- The company grew prosperously for a decade.
- He managed his finances prosperously.
adjective
British English
- The prosperous town attracted new investment.
- They lived in a prosperous neighbourhood.
American English
- A prosperous economy benefits everyone.
- She came from a prosperous family.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The plants prosper in the sun.
- Good students often prosper.
- His business began to prosper after the first year.
- With hard work, you can prosper in any field.
- The economy prospered under the new trade agreements.
- Not all companies prosper during economic downturns.
- The policy aims to prosper small enterprises through tax incentives.
- Civilisations that invest in education tend to prosper culturally and economically.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of PROfessional SPERm (seed) → a successful seed grows and thrives.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUCCESS IS GROWTH (a plant thriving); SUCCESS IS WEALTH (accumulating riches).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as "проспать" (to oversleep). The Russian "процветать" is a close equivalent, but "prosper" is more formal than "преуспевать".
Common Mistakes
- Using "prosper" as a noun (correct noun: prosperity). Confusing with "prospect".
Practice
Quiz
Which word is closest in meaning to 'prosper'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral to formal; common in business and writing, but can be used in everyday speech.
Yes, but less commonly (e.g., 'The new law prospered the community'). Intransitive use is more frequent.
Prosperity.
No, it can refer to success in health, relationships, projects, or general well-being.