Cool MateProsper vs Succeed
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Prosper
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B1verb
Succeed
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most common: Succeed
| Prosper | Succeed | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈprɒspə//🇺🇸 //ˈprɑːspər// | 🇬🇧 /["/səkˈsiːd/","/səkˈsiːdz/","/səkˈsiːdɪd/","/səkˈsiːdɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/səkˈsiːd/","/səkˈsiːdz/","/səkˈsiːdɪd/","/səkˈsiːdɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To be successful and make a lot of money. | to do well or to reach a goal |
| Example | Their business began to prosper after they revamped their marketing strategy. | If you work hard, you will succeed in your goals. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | prosper in business, prosper financially, prosper together | admirably, beautifully, brilliantly, be likely to, be unlikely to, be determined to, against, at, in, admirably, beautifully, brilliantly, be likely to, be unlikely to, be determined to, against, at, in, appoint somebody to, elect somebody to, be tipped to, as, to, appoint somebody to, elect somebody to, be tipped to, as, to |
| Antonyms | fail, struggle, decline | fail, stop, flop |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'prospective' which relates to future possibilities., Mistakenly used as an adjective instead of a verb. | Confused with 'succeed in' vs 'succeed at', Using 'succeed' without an object or context, Incorrectly conjugating with 'succeeded' in future tense |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts, often related to business or personal success. | Use 'succeed' in general situations where someone achieves their aims. More common in neutral contexts than in formal discussions. Avoid using in overly casual settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Prosper vs Succeed
What's the difference between Prosper and Succeed?
Prosper: To be successful and make a lot of money. Succeed: to do well or to reach a goal
Which is more common: Prosper and Succeed?
Succeed is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Prosper and Succeed?
Prosper is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Prosper and Succeed the same CEFR level?
Prosper: B1, Succeed: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Prosper and Succeed?
Prosper: verb, Succeed: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Prosper: Their business began to prosper after they revamped their marketing strategy. Succeed: If you work hard, you will succeed in your goals.
Can I use Prosper and Succeed interchangeably?
Not always. Prosper and Succeed are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.