Thrive — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈthrīv/

Meaning & Definition of Thrive

Thrive (verb)

  1. to grow vigorously, flourish
  2. to gain in wealth or possessions, prosper
  3. to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances —often used with on

Thrive (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to grow vigorously

    "these plants thrive with relatively little sunlight"

    similar: burgeon, flourish, prosper
    related: luxuriate, overgrow, proliferate, shoot up, germinate, root, sprout, bloom, flower, fruit, produce, propagate, regenerate, seed

  2. to reach a desired level of accomplishment

    "going to a school for gifted students will help him thrive as a musical prodigy"

    similar: arrive, flourish, prosper, succeed, come into one's own, cut it, cut the mustard, get ahead, get somewhere, get there, hack it, hit it big, make good, make it, make one's mark, make the grade
    related: prevail, triumph, win, excel
    opposite: fail
    near: flounder, struggle

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Thrive

The most common words with a similar meaning to Thrive:

burgeon, flourish, prosper, arrive, succeed, come into one's own, cut it, cut the mustard, get ahead, get somewhere, get there, hack it, hit it big, make good, make it, make one's mark, make the grade

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Thrive

Words with the opposite meaning of Thrive:

fail

Related Words for Thrive

luxuriate, overgrow, proliferate, shoot up, germinate, root, sprout, bloom, flower, fruit, produce, propagate, regenerate, seed, prevail, triumph, win, excel

Near Antonyms of Thrive

flounder, struggle

Word Forms of Thrive

Inflections: thrived, throve, thriven, thriving

Derived words: thriver (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Thrive

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

First known use: 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Thrive

Words & Phrases Containing Thrive

thrive on

Frequently Asked Questions about Thrive

What does "Thrive" mean?

"Thrive" means to grow vigorously, flourish. As a verb, it is defined as: to grow vigorously, flourish. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Thrive"?

Other words for "Thrive" include burgeon, flourish, prosper, arrive, succeed, come into one's own, cut it and cut the mustard. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Thrive" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Thrive"?

There are 35 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Thrive". Common alternatives include burgeon, flourish, prosper, arrive, succeed, come into one's own, cut it, cut the mustard, get ahead and get somewhere.

What is the opposite of "Thrive"?

Antonyms of "Thrive" include fail. Near antonyms include flounder and struggle.

How do you use "Thrive" in a sentence?

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".

Is "Thrive" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Thrive" is a verb.

Is "Thrive" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Thrive" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Thrive"?

"Thrive" is pronounced /ˈthrīv/.