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Synonyms

prosperous

American  
[pros-per-uhs] / ˈprɒs pər əs /

adjective

  1. having or characterized by financial success or good fortune; flourishing; successful.

    a prosperous business.

    Synonyms:
    thriving
  2. well-to-do or well-off.

    a prosperous family.

    Synonyms:
    rich, wealthy
  3. favorable or propitious.

    Synonyms:
    auspicious, lucky, fortunate

prosperous British  
/ ˈprɒspərəs /

adjective

  1. flourishing; prospering

  2. rich; affluent; wealthy

  3. favourable or promising

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does prosperous mean? Prosperous means successful, especially in a financial or material way.It can be used to describe people, groups, or institutions like businesses.The word is typically used to describe people who have achieved success in terms of wealth, health, and happiness. But it can also be used broadly, much like the words successful, thriving, and flourishing.Prosperous is based on the verb prosper, which means to be successful. 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. The word prospering can be used as an adjective to mean the same thing as prosperous. The related noun prosperity refers to a state of success.Example: If we can continue to maintain this level of quality, our company will continue to be prosperous.

Other Word Forms

  • nonprosperous adjective
  • nonprosperously adverb
  • nonprosperousness noun
  • overprosperous adjective
  • overprosperously adverb
  • overprosperousness noun
  • prosperously adverb
  • prosperousness noun
  • pseudoprosperous adjective
  • pseudoprosperously adverb
  • quasi-prosperous adjective
  • quasi-prosperously adverb
  • superprosperous adjective
  • unprosperous adjective
  • unprosperously adverb
  • unprosperousness noun

Etymology

Origin of prosperous

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin prosperus

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.

Yes, there may be a bumpy transition and many roles will change, but businesses and the broader economy will emerge more prosperous, creating a raft of new jobs, the narrative goes.

From The Wall Street Journal

"We are now firmly on the path to a more prosperous and brighter future for Prem Rugby," said league chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor.

From BBC

Newly empowered after a landslide victory in snap elections this month, Takaichi has vowed to make Japan "strong and prosperous" through key policy changes including in defence and intelligence.

From Barron's

Culiacán is a prosperous city, full of shopping malls, neat parks and fancy car dealerships.

From BBC

Indoctrinating the population, especially younger North Koreans, is a bigger challenge due to an influx of illicit foreign media showing a prosperous outside world.

From The Wall Street Journal