What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
flourish
Example
The garden is flourishing with all the rain we've been getting. [flourishing: present participle]
Example
The company began to flourish after implementing new marketing strategies. [flourish: verb]
Example
The pianist flourished during the performance, impressing the audience with their skill. [flourished: past tense]
thrive
Example
The children are thriving in their new school environment. [thriving: present participle]
Example
The small business thrived despite the economic downturn. [thrive: verb]
Example
The cactus thrives in hot and dry conditions. [thrives: present tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Thrive is more commonly used than flourish in everyday language. Thrive is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while flourish is less common and refers to more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between flourish and thrive?
Both flourish and thrive can be used in formal and informal contexts, but flourish may be more commonly used in artistic or creative settings, while thrive may be more commonly used in business or scientific settings.
