thrive

IPA/θraɪv/
KK[θrˈaɪv]IPA/θraɪv/

thrive — verb

  • thrivepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • thriveshe / she / it
  • thrivedpast simple
  • thriving-ing form

1. to grow and do extremely well, becoming increasingly successful, healthy, or str

1.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

to grow and do extremely well, becoming increasingly successful, healthy, or strong over a period of time

Example

Kabir's small coffee shop began to thrive even though it was surrounded by larger chains.

thrive + adverbial clause of concession

After years of hard work, the family business finally started to thrive under new management.

thrive under [conditions/leadership]

Common collocations
  • thrive on
  • thrive in
  • thrive under
Synonyms
  • prosper

    more narrowly about financial or material success; less about personal well-being or growth

  • flourish

    similar to thrive but often carries a sense of visible vitality and beauty; common for creative or artistic contexts

  • succeed

    broader in scope — can mean achieving a single goal, whereas thrive implies sustained well-being over time

Antonyms
  • struggle

    implies difficulty and lack of progress rather than growth

  • decline

    suggests a downward trend in health, success, or strength

Grammar Patterns

thrive + in/on/under + [condition]

Usage Note

Often used with prepositions 'in', 'on', or 'under' to describe the conditions that enable success. 'Thrive on' suggests that someone or something benefits from or even needs a particular situation, especially a challenging one.

Common Mistakes

She thrived her business by cutting costs.
Her business thrived after she cut costs.
'thrive' is intransitive and cannot take a direct object.
The company thrives the new market.
The company thrives in the new market.
a preposition (in, on, under) is needed to link 'thrive' to its conditions.
He strove after moving to the city.' (when meaning 'thrived')
He thrived after moving to the city.
'strive' means to make great effort, while 'thrive' means to do well.

2. to grow strong and healthy, especially when the surrounding conditions are good

2.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

to grow strong and healthy, especially when the surrounding conditions are good for growth

Example

Tomato plants thrive in the hot summer sun if they get enough water.

thrive in [growing condition]

Hiro's garden flowers thrived after he added compost to the soil.

Common collocations
  • thrive in
  • thrive on
Synonyms
  • flourish

    nearly interchangeable for plants; emphasizes visible, abundant growth

  • bloom

    more specific — refers to producing flowers, not just growing well

Antonyms
  • wilt

    specific to plants; suggests losing strength and drooping

  • wither

    suggests drying up and dying from lack of water or poor conditions

Grammar Patterns

thrive + in/on + [growing condition]

Usage Note

Primarily used for plants and other living organisms. When used for animals, it describes healthy physical development. This sense contrasts with sense 1, which focuses on success in human activities rather than physical growth.

Common Mistakes

The plant thrived in the dark corner.
The plant thrived in the sunny window.
plants thrive in conditions that support their natural growth, not in unsuitable environments.
The flowers thrived the cold weather.
The flowers thrived despite the cold weather.' or 'The flowers thrived in the cold weather.
a preposition is required.
Phrasal verbs

thrive on

phrasal verb

To grow or succeed because of a particular situation or activity.

Maya thrives on the challenge of solving complex puzzles.

Does your cat thrive on a diet of fresh fish?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Thrive suggests steady, multi-dimensional well-being — a person, business, or community doing well in health, happiness, or growth over time. Prosper is more narrowly financial, focusing on material wealth and economic gain; a business can prosper without its employees thriving personally. Flourish overlaps with thrive but adds a sense of visible vitality and beauty, often used for creative work, personal development, or plant life. Succeed is the broadest — it can mean reaching a single goal (passing an exam, finishing a project), whereas thrive implies lasting, ongoing well-being. Boom describes rapid, often temporary growth, especially in markets or populations, and lacks the connotation of steady health that thrive carries. For example: a startup might boom for a year, but a family farm that has thrived for generations tells a different story.

prosper ↗flourish ↗succeed ↗boom ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • thrive under pressure
  • thrive on challenge
  • thrive in an environment

Prepositions

Etymology

Old NorseMiddle EnglishEnglish

Thrive comes from Old Norse 'þrífast', meaning 'to grasp, to thrive', which was the reflexive form of 'þrifa' (to seize). The original idea was 'to grasp for oneself', which later shifted to 'to flourish, to prosper' in Middle English. The sense of vigorous growth in plants and living things developed alongside the broader meaning of success and well-being.