Cool MateProsper vs Thrive
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Prosper
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B1verb
Thrive
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most common: Thrive
| Prosper | Thrive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈprɒspə//🇺🇸 //ˈprɑːspər// | 🇬🇧 /["/θraɪv/","/θraɪvz/","/θraɪvd/","/ˈθraɪvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/θraɪv/","/θraɪvz/","/θraɪvd/","/ˈθraɪvɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To be successful and make a lot of money. | To grow strong and be successful. |
| Example | Their business began to prosper after they revamped their marketing strategy. | New businesses thrive in this area. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | prosper in business, prosper financially, prosper together | positively, still, seem to, continue to, fail to, on, failure to thrive |
| Antonyms | fail, struggle, decline | fail, decline, wither |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'prospective' which relates to future possibilities., Mistakenly used as an adjective instead of a verb. | Confusing with 'survive' - thrive means to do well, while survive means to just get by., Using it in a negative sentence - thrive is generally positive, so it's rare to say 'does not thrive.', Confusing the prepositions - remember to use 'on', 'in', or 'through' correctly. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts, often related to business or personal success. | This word is suitable in both casual and professional contexts. Use it to describe personal growth or the success of businesses and plants. Avoid using it in overly negative contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Prosper vs Thrive
What's the difference between Prosper and Thrive?
Prosper: To be successful and make a lot of money. Thrive: To grow strong and be successful.
Which is more common: Prosper and Thrive?
Thrive is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Prosper and Thrive?
Thrive is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Prosper and Thrive the same CEFR level?
Prosper: B1, Thrive: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Prosper and Thrive?
Prosper: verb, Thrive: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Prosper: Their business began to prosper after they revamped their marketing strategy. Thrive: New businesses thrive in this area.
Can I use Prosper and Thrive interchangeably?
Not always. Prosper and Thrive 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.