English
thrive
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /θɹaɪv/
Verb

thrive (thrives, present participle thriving; past throve, past participle thriven)

  1. To grow or increase stature; to grow vigorously or luxuriantly, to flourish.
    Not all animals thrive well in captivity.
    to thrive upon hard work
    • 1819, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe, Chapter 16,
      “It seems to me, reverend father,” said the knight, “that the small morsels which you eat, together with this holy, but somewhat thin beverage, have thriven with you marvellously.”
    • 1855, Robert Browning, “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came”, X:
      So, on I went. I think I never saw / Such starved ignoble nature; nothing throve: / For flowers - as well expect a cedar grove!
    • 1941, Emily Carr, Klee Wyck, Chapter 3,
      The growing things jumbled themselves together into a dense thicket; so tensely earnest were things about growing in Skedans that everything linked with everything else, hurrying to grow to the limit of its own capacity; weeds and weaklings alike throve in the rich moistness.
  2. To increase in wealth or success; to prosper, be profitable.
    Since expanding in June, the business has really thrived.
    • 1596-97, William Shakespeare, The Merchant Of Venice, Act II Scene 7
      [...] Deliver me the key.
      Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may!
Synonyms Translations Translations

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