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prosperous

prosperous

3 5.1
A good sign that things will go well
  • adjective
  • /ˈprɒspərəs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : propicio
  • May the world have a peaceful and prosperous year in 5773.

I know a lot of countries and cultures eat a particular food for, you know, a prosperous new Year.

Examples

  • For most, Germany seemed to offer a more prosperous future than Poland.

  • To wish someone a prosperous journey.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • To the beginning of a long, prosperous relationship.

  • So... let us all build on tonight... and create a prosperous new future... for us all.

  • I hope your time here will be prosperous... and peaceful.

  • With best wishes for a prosperous new year.

  • Have a prosperous trip.

  • So let's raise a glass and wish these two beautiful people a wonderful and prosperous future together... - Salud! - Salud!

  • The hired beggar, who by requesting admission first after the vows were completed, ensured that the marriage would be prosperous.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The new policies are expected to create a more prosperous economy for everyone.

Synonyms

lucky
vsprosperous
1.0

Having good things happen by chance

focuses on predicting luck rather than accidental or chance success
golden
vsprosperous
348 1.8

A very successful or lucky time in a person's life

emphasizes likely good outcome rather than being merely special or valuable
bright
vsprosperous
128 1.5

Likely to be successful and have good chances

highlights likelihood of good results rather than general hopefulness
favorable
vsprosperous
  • US
73 3.1

Giving an advantage that makes success more likely

focuses on predicting a good future outcome, not just helpful conditions
auspicious
vsprosperous
  • Formal
22 7.3

Showing a good sign that something will succeed

is about indicating likely good outcomes rather than describing results
fortunate
vsprosperous
20 2.0

Likely to bring a good result

is more about likely future success rather than only a chance occurrence
felicitous
vsprosperous
  • Formal
1 7.6

Bringing good luck and success

is about presaging future good outcomes rather than describing achieved happiness

Antonyms

91 1.0

Having bad luck that causes problems

4 8.1

Likely to bring bad luck and make success unlikely

How Favorable

prosperous
  • Archaic
3 5.1
auspicious
  • Formal
22 7.3
promising
203 3.1
hopeful
46 1.0

Surface Forms

prosperous positive

Morphology

prosperous = prosper (semi-transparent) = prosper + ous

This sense is related to 'prosper' (favorable outcome), but shifts toward 'auspicious' or 'bringing good luck', a meaning extension less directly predictable from the base verb.

Etymology

Prosperous originally meant 'favourable' or 'fortunate', so people used it for times or moments that seemed likely to bring good luck. A helpful way to remember this is to link it to prosperity, because a 'prosperous' day or hour is one that promises a good outcome. That's why it can mean 'auspicious' or likely to bring success.