prosperous

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Having plenty of money and doing well, especially in business or trade.

   Grammar: Goes before a noun or after be: a prosperous town; the firm is prosperous.

   Patterns

   • a prosperous businessman
   • prosperous times

   The prosperous merchant built a large house by the river.

   The town became prosperous after the factory opened.

   They lived in a prosperous suburb with excellent schools.

2. 2adjectivecomparable

   Successful and thriving in a more general way, with good fortune and growth.

   Grammar: Used in wishes and descriptions of the future: a happy and prosperous year.

   Patterns

   • a prosperous future
   • a prosperous year

   We wish you a happy and prosperous new year.

   The farm had a prosperous season.

   She hoped for a prosperous career in medicine.

Word forms

Common combinations

prosperous economy

A prosperous economy creates jobs.

prosperous future

The company has a prosperous future ahead.

prosperous nation

It was once a prosperous nation of traders.

prosperous farm

A prosperous farm needs good soil and steady rain.

relatively prosperous

The area is relatively prosperous compared with its neighbors.

Synonyms and how they differ

wealthy

Wealthy focuses on having a lot of money, while prosperous also suggests growth and continuing success.

thriving

Thriving stresses active growth and health, often of a business, and does not require wealth.

affluent

Affluent describes people or places with comfortable high incomes, in a more formal register.

flourishing

Flourishing is broader and can describe plants, art or trade, not just money.

Opposites

Word family

prosper verb

to succeed and become rich

prosperity noun

success and wealth

prosperously adverb

in a successful, rich way

Commonly confused: prosperous or prospective?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “prosperous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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