prospect

1 of 2

noun

pros·​pect ˈprä-ˌspekt 

1

: exposure sense 3b

2

a(1)

: an extensive view

(2)

: a mental consideration : survey

b

: a place that commands an extensive view : lookout

c

: something extended to the view : scene

d

archaic : a sketch or picture of a scene

3

obsolete : aspect

4

a

: the act of looking forward : anticipation

b

: a mental picture of something to come : vision

c

: something that is awaited or expected : possibility

d prospects plural

(1)

: financial expectations

(2)

: chances

5

: a place showing signs of containing a mineral deposit

6

a

: a potential buyer or customer

b

: a likely candidate for a job or position

prospect

2 of 2

verb

pros·​pect ˈprä-ˌspekt 

 chiefly British  prə-ˈspekt

prospected; prospecting; prospects

intransitive verb

: to explore an area especially for mineral deposits

transitive verb

: to inspect (a region) for mineral deposits

broadly : explore

prospector

ˈprä-ˌspek-tər 

prə-ˈspek-

noun

Phrases

in prospect

: possible or likely for the future

Did you know?

Since the Latin prefix pro- often means "forward", prospect refers to looking forward. The prospect of a recession may lead investors to pull their money out of the stock market. Graduates of a good law school usually have excellent prospects for finding employment. Prospective students roam campuses with their parents in the year before they plan to enter college.

Synonyms

Noun

• command
• lookout
• outlook
• panorama
• perspective
• view
• vista

Verb

• explore
• hunt
• probe
• search
• skirr

Choose the Right Synonym for prospect

prospect, outlook, anticipation, foretaste mean an advance realization of something to come.

prospect implies expectation of a particular event, condition, or development of definite interest or concern.

the prospect of a quiet weekend

outlook suggests a forecasting of the future.

a favorable outlook for the economy

anticipation implies a prospect or outlook that involves advance suffering or enjoyment of what is foreseen.

the anticipation of her arrival

foretaste implies an actual though brief or partial experience of something forthcoming.

the frost was a foretaste of winter

Examples of prospect in a Sentence

Noun

the frightening prospect of going to war

She is excited by the prospect of returning to school.

Bankruptcy is an unlikely prospect for the company.

There was no prospect that the two parties would reach an agreement anytime soon.

a young baseball player who's considered a top prospect

We haven't decided which car to buy yet. We're still looking at a few prospects.

Verb

soon all manner of people had arrived in the valley to prospect it for gold

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

My final draft board and draft package ranking the top 100 prospects (plus 30 honorable mentions and 15 overagers) in the 2025 NHL Draft is already out. —Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 22 June 2025

The Cincinnati Reds are expected to call up flame-throwing prospect Chase Burns to make his MLB debut against the Yankees on Tuesday, according to reports. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 22 June 2025

Verb

The Oilers acquiring either man wouldn’t be necessary should Bowman successfully sign Oilers prospect Maxim Berezkin out of the KHL this summer. —Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 22 June 2025

Still, there’s one woman whose prospects Lucy despairs of. —Jocelyn Noveck, Boston Herald, 13 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Latin prospectus view, prospect, from prospicere to look forward, exercise foresight, from pro- forward + specere to look — more at pro-, spy

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1834, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing prospect

• in prospect

Kids Definition

prospect

1 of 2 noun

pros·​pect ˈpräs-ˌpekt 

1

: a wide view

2

: looking forward to something : anticipation

the prospect of a good time

3

: something that is waited for or expected : possibility

what is the prospect of our seeing you again soon?

4

a

: a possible buyer or customer

b

: a likely candidate

a presidential prospect

prospect

2 of 2 verb

: to explore especially for mineral deposits

prospecting for gold