Synonyms of thrive

intransitive verb

1
: to grow vigorously : flourish
thriving emotionally/intellectually/spiritually
Many annuals and perennials need plenty of sunlight to thrive.—Lauren David
2
: to gain in wealth or possessions : prosper
One restaurant thriving as lower income consumers pull back is Olive Garden.—Francisco Velasquez
3
: to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances
thrives under pressure
—often used with on
thrives on conflict

Examples of thrive in a Sentence

these plants thrive with relatively little sunlight going to a school for gifted students will help him thrive as a musical prodigy
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For the last three, Corinealdi’s character, Jax, has maneuvered through family and marital stress, thrived against office politics and betrayals, endured a kidnapping, and nearly faced death before pulling through a coma after a near-fatal shooting. — Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 12 Oct. 2026 Ahmed was at once stranded in France and thriving in a world where nobody questioned his self-mythology. — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Stores plan to be thriving Hispanic community hubs Amor Collective will strive to be an event space beyond just meetings and workshops. — Terry Tang, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 Those guys left the organization and thrived in other places. — Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thrive

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old Norse thrīfask, probably reflexive of thrīfa to grasp

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of thrive was in the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thrive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thrive. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
: to grow vigorously : do well : flourish
2
: to gain in wealth or possessions : prosper
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