Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense thrives, present participle thriving, past tense, past participle thrived
1. verb
If someone or something thrives, they do well and are successful, healthy, or strong.
Today his company continues to thrive. [VERB]
Lavender thrives in poor soil. [VERB]
...the river's thriving population of kingfishers. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: prosper, do well, flourish, increase More Synonyms of thrive
2. verb
If you say that someone thrives on a particular situation, you mean that they enjoy it or that they can deal with it very well, especially when other people find it unpleasant or difficult.
Many people thrive on a stressful lifestyle. [VERB + on]
Creative people are usually very determined and thrive on overcoming obstacles. [Von n/-ing]
thrive in British English
(θraɪv)
verbWord forms: thrives, thriving, thrived, throve, thrived or thriven (ˈθrɪvən)(intransitive)
1.
to grow strongly and vigorously
2.
to do well; prosper
Derived forms
thriver (ˈthriver)
noun
thriving (ˈthriving)
adjective
thrivingly (ˈthrivingly)
adverb
Word origin
C13: from Old Norse thrīfask to grasp for oneself, reflexive of thrīfa to grasp, of obscure origin
thrive in American English
(θraɪv)
verb intransitiveWord forms: thrived or throve, thrived or ˈthriven (ˈθrɪvən), ˈthriving
1.
to prosper or flourish; be successful, esp. as the result of economical management
2.
to grow vigorously or luxuriantly; improve physically
Word origin
ME thrifen < ON thrifast, to prosper, reflex. of thrifa, to grasp
Examples of 'thrive' in a sentence
thrive
Elephants are like humans in that they need company to thrive.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Many interns thrive here but some find that it is not to their liking.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But there is no guarantee that your company will thrive.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In no other sport can veterans thrive so well.
The Sun (2014)
Universities thrive and grow best when all theories are peacefully discussed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
British business is well placed to thrive.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Our challenge is to make them thrive and grow.
The Sun (2008)
And three of those are well practised at thriving on catastrophe.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It has also thrived on the growing use of smartphones.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Our challenge is to make them thrive and grow and give them the support and investment they deserve.
The Sun (2008)
We are giving local areas another tool to encourage shoppers to the town centre and get shops to grow and thrive.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Many thrive in boggy soil, too.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Its total headcount is higher than it was in 2014 and the company is thriving.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They perform well and thrive in fickle British weather.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She was decreed to be thriving, well above average.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Many people thrive on a stressful life style and simply wouldn't be happy leading a quiet life in the country.
Hambly, Dr Kenneth Banish Anxiety - how to stop worrying and take charge of your life (1991)
By the same token, a takeover may not be so eagerly sought if the company can thrive on its own.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It is a pressure he enjoys and thrives in... just like the man who has been plotting to stop him for two years.
The Sun (2011)
Won't this help the cat population to thrive, too?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Kew Gardens had a thriving hedgehog population until the mid 1980s when badgers first arrived there.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Brighton seemed a more fitting choice, with its faster trains, commuter population and thriving arts scene.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
That is something I enJoy and thrive on.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
thrive
British English: thrive VERB
If someone or something thrives, they do well and are successful, healthy, or strong.
Today his company continues to thrive.
American English: thrive
Brazilian Portuguese: prosperar
Chinese: 兴旺发达
European Spanish: prosperar
French: prospérer
German: gedeihen
Italian: prosperare
Japanese: 良い状態にある
Korean: 번창하다
European Portuguese: prosperar
Latin American Spanish: prosperar
(verb)
Definition
to grow strongly and vigorously
Today his company continues to thrive.
Synonyms
prosper
The high street banks continue to prosper.
do well
flourish
Business soon flourished.
increase
The population continues to increase.
grow
The economy continues to grow.
develop
Children develop at different rates.
advance
The country has advanced from a rural society to an industrial power.
succeed
the skills and qualities needed to succeed
get on
I asked how he was getting on.
boom
Lipstick sales have boomed even more.
bloom
Not many economies bloomed in 1990.
wax
Portugal and Spain had vast empires which waxed and waned.
burgeon
the country's burgeoning software industry
grow rich
have legs (informal)
Opposites
fail,
decline
,
wither
,
wilt
,
wane
,
perish
,
languish
,
droop
,
shrivel
,
stagnate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of advance
The country has advanced from a rural society to an industrial power.
Synonyms
improve,
rise,
grow,
develop,
reform,
pick up,
progress,
thrive,
upgrade,
multiply,
prosper,
make strides
in the sense of bloom
Definition
to flourish or grow
Not many economies bloomed in 1990.
Synonyms
succeed,
flourish,
thrive,
prosper,
fare well
in the sense of boom
Definition
to prosper vigorously and rapidly
Lipstick sales have boomed even more.
Synonyms
increase,
flourish,
grow,
develop,
succeed,
expand,
strengthen,
do well,
swell,
thrive,
intensify,
prosper,
burgeon,
spurt
Synonyms of 'thrive'
thrive
Explore 'thrive' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of burgeon
Definition
to develop or grow rapidly
the country's burgeoning software industry
Synonyms
develop,
increase,
grow,
flower,
progress,
mature,
thrive,
flourish,
bloom,
bud,
blossom,
prosper
in the sense of develop
Definition
to grow or bring to a later, more elaborate, or more advanced stage
Children develop at different rates.
Synonyms
grow,
advance,
progress,
spread,
expand,
mature,
evolve,
thrive,
flourish,
bloom,
blossom,
burgeon,
ripen
in the sense of flourish
Definition
to be active, successful, or widespread
Business soon flourished.
Synonyms
thrive,
increase,
develop,
advance,
abound,
progress,
boom,
bloom,
blossom,
prosper,
burgeon
in the sense of get on
Definition
to make progress
I asked how he was getting on.
Synonyms
progress,
manage,
cope,
fare,
advance,
succeed,
make out (informal),
prosper,
cut it (informal),
get along
in the sense of grow
The economy continues to grow.
Synonyms
improve,
advance,
progress,
succeed,
expand,
thrive,
flourish,
prosper
in the sense of increase
Definition
to make or become greater in size, degree, or frequency
The population continues to increase.
Synonyms
grow,
develop,
spread,
mount,
expand,
build up,
swell,
wax,
enlarge,
escalate,
multiply,
fill out,
get bigger,
proliferate,
snowball,
dilate
in the sense of succeed
Definition
to do well in a specified field
the skills and qualities needed to succeed
Synonyms
make it (informal),
do well,
be successful,
arrive (informal),
triumph,
thrive,
flourish,
make good,
prosper,
cut it (informal),
make the grade (informal),
get to the top,
crack it (informal),
hit the jackpot (informal),
bring home the bacon (informal),
make your mark (informal),
gain your end,
carry all before you,
do all right for yourself
in the sense of wax
Definition
to increase gradually in size, strength, or power
Portugal and Spain had vast empires which waxed and waned.