thriving

1. 1
   adjective

   Growing vigorously and doing well; successful, flourishing, and prospering.

   A thriving tech sector drew thousands of new workers to the city.

   Despite the drought, the vineyard remained surprisingly thriving.

   Similarsuccessful, prosperous, fortunate

   Oppositeailing

   Note

   A participial adjective that compares with more and most rather than -er and -est: a more thriving market, the most thriving town in the valley. That comparison is also the easiest way to tell it from the verb form. The shop is thriving could be either, but the shop is more thriving than ever can only be the adjective. Beside prosperous and successful, thriving keeps the picture of something alive and growing.

2. 2
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of thrive.

   The coral reef is thriving now that the surrounding water is cleaner.

   Thriving in the desert heat, the cactus put out bright blooms.

   Note

   The form that carries the progressive and the -ing clause: the reef is thriving, thriving in the desert heat. Thrive is intransitive in both its meanings, so thriving never takes a direct object. What follows is a place or condition, often introduced by in. It covers both strands of the verb: vigorous growth for plants and creatures, and prospering for people and ventures. It shades into the adjective whenever more can stand before it.

3. 3
   noununcountable

   The act or process of growing vigorously and doing well; flourishing.

   The thriving of the coral reef surprised the marine biologists who had expected its decline.

   Years of careful investment ensured the thriving of the local economy.

   Similarflourishing, prosperity, growth, success

   Oppositedecline, decay, failure

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