Doing Well – Definition and Part of Speech
The phrase doing well typically refers to someone or something functioning effectively, succeeding, or thriving in a particular context. It can describe personal achievements, health, financial success, or any area where positive outcomes are being experienced. The expression is primarily used as an idiom and generally appears in the present continuous form (“is doing well”) or simple present tense (“does well”).
Core Synonyms
Below is a table of synonyms for doing well, with brief definitions, example sentences, and notes on style or register:
| Synonym | Brief Definition/Nuance | Example Sentence | Style/Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thriving | Indicating vigorous growth and success | “The startup is thriving thanks to innovative strategies.” | Formal, Business |
| Flourishing | Growing or developing in a healthy or vigorous way | “Her career is flourishing with the new project.” | Formal/Informal, Academic |
| Succeeding | Achieving desired results | “He’s succeeding at his job by working hard and smart.” | Informal/Casual |
| Prospers | Doing well financially or in terms of growth | “The company prospers under the new management.” | Formal, Business |
| Excelling | Performing exceptionally well | “She’s excelling in her studies by maintaining top grades.” | Academic/Formal |
Usage Notes
Each synonym for doing well can be used across various contexts depending on its nuance and appropriateness:
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Thriving: Best suited for business or formal settings where vigorous growth is emphasized, such as in company reports or market analyses.
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Flourishing: Suitable for both academic discussions about cultural or artistic developments and informal conversations about personal progress. It carries a connotation of organic development.
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Succeeding: Common in casual speech; often used to describe achieving goals or overcoming challenges without specifying the type of success (financial, career, etc.).
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Prosper: Frequently used in financial contexts or when discussing long-term growth and stability. Appropriate for business communications or economic reports.
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Excelling: Ideal for academic settings where exceptional performance is highlighted; also suitable for formal accolades or recognition contexts.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake involves confusing these synonyms due to their overlapping meanings related to success. It’s important to consider the context:
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Thriving vs. Flourishing: Both imply growth, but thriving often suggests a competitive advantage while flourishing emphasizes natural development.
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Succeeding vs. Excelling: While both indicate positive outcomes, succeeding is more general and can apply to various goals, whereas excelling implies outstanding performance beyond the norm.
Final Recap
In summary, synonyms like thriving, flourishing, succeeding, prosper, and excel offer nuanced ways to express success or positive outcomes, each fitting different contexts. Recognizing when to use each term can enrich communication by providing specific connotations that align with the desired emphasis.
To expand your vocabulary and usage skills, try incorporating these synonyms into your writing and conversation. Experiment with crafting sentences in various styles—business proposals, academic papers, casual chats—to see how they fit naturally within different contexts. This practice will enhance both precision and expressiveness in your communication.