thrive
- To grow, develop, or prosper vigorously and successfully.
In a sentence
- The small business began to thrive once the owner discovered her target market.
- Children tend to thrive in environments that balance structure with creative freedom.
Usage note. The past tense of 'thrive' can be either 'thrived' (more common today) or 'throve' (archaic); both are correct, but 'thrived' is preferred in modern writing.
Where it comes from
Middle English thriven — “to prosper, grow” · entered English 13th c.
Borrowed from Old Norse 'þrífast,' meaning 'to grasp for oneself, to prosper,' a reflexive form of 'þrífa,' meaning 'to grasp or seize.' It entered Middle English in the 13th century during the period of heavy Norse influence on English, particularly in northern dialects.