To save this word, you'll need to log in.
pros·pect | \ ˈprä-ˌspekt 
\
\Definition of prospect
(Entry 1 of 2)
2a(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
4a : 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
6a : a potential buyer or customer
b : a likely candidate for a job or position
in prospect
: possible or likely for the future
prospect
verbpros·pect | \ ˈprä-ˌspekt , chiefly British prə-ˈspekt \
, chiefly British prə-ˈspekt \prospected; prospecting; prospects
Definition of prospect (Entry 2 of 2)
: to explore an area especially for mineral deposits
: to inspect (a region) for mineral deposits broadly : explore
Keep scrolling for more
Other Words from prospect
Verb
prospector \ ˈprä-ˌspek-tər , prə-ˈspek- \ noun
, prə-ˈspek- \ noun
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
See More
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The prospect of a generation’s unrealistic idealism curdling, though, is not what most worries other Democrats about a Sanders candidacy.
—
The Economist, "Iowa overShadowed The shambolic Iowa caucuses did little to unite the Democrats," 6 Feb. 2020 While the prospect alone is exciting for the family, the effort itself is noteworthy, the Mallorys said.
—
Jim Riccioli, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A family farm in Eagle might be catering Brantley Gilbert's concert at Fiserv Forum," 4 Feb. 2020 Landsman said the prospect of two entities granting incentives in the city wouldn't be ideal.
—
Max Londberg, Cincinnati.com, "City-Cincinnati schools impasse on incentives closer to ending, as council panel OKs deal," 4 Feb. 2020 The 3-star prospect was also the AL.com Coastal Alabama Player of the Year and the AL.com Super All-State Player of the year.
—
Ben Thomas | Bthomas@al.com, al, "Mr. Football runner-up Kris Abrams-Draine commits to SEC East school," 31 Jan. 2020 Such a power, however, would open the door to input from property owners, a prospect that bill supporters say is only fair but one that gives some legal observers pause.
—
Sarah Bowman, Indianapolis Star, "Indiana has 45 miles of Lake Michigan shore. Lawmakers kick up sand about who owns it.," 30 Jan. 2020 So for Iranian Americans, the prospect of war is not the latest bombshell in the news cycle, destined to be swept away by the next breaking event.
—
Ava Johnson, Teen Vogue, "Iranian Americans Are Still Worried About the Prospect of War," 27 Jan. 2020 With piccata in your arsenal, the prospect of yet another hardy winter veg is a lot less bleak, and a ho-hum crisper-drawer clean-out can be a proper dressed-vegetable side dish.
—
Caroline Lange, Bon Appétit, "Piccata Makes Any Winter Veg Taste Like It's on Spring Break," 24 Jan. 2020 For a generation of youngsters who had taken campus recruitment as almost a birthright, the prospect of not having the opportunity of employment is bringing back a despondency that their parents had faced in the decades before the 1990s.
—
S. Gopikrishna Warrier, Quartz India, "Like unchecked growth, economic decline too can have environmental fallouts in India," 20 Jan. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb His example of prospecting via merger led to the acquisition of three majors by other majors: Texaco by Chevron, Mobil Oil by Exxon and Standard Oil of Ohio by British Petroleum.
—
Chris Power, Washington Post, "T. Boone Pickens, Texas oil tycoon who led legendary corporate raids, dies at 91," 13 Sep. 2019 If the project moved ahead, then his company would conduct the site’s prospecting work.
—
Juliana Hanle, Scientific American, "The Fight for the Reindeer," 18 Nov. 2019 Giants prospect Jacob Heyward, kid brother of Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward, was ejected for arguing a call by a robot umpire.
—
John Shea, SFChronicle.com, "Robo umps need work: Giants prospect Jacob Heyward ejected after bad call," 19 Oct. 2019 Sharks prospect Joachim Blichfeld scored 2:55 into the third period to tie the game 3-3.
—
Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, "Sharks fall to Anaheim Ducks in preseason opener," 17 Sep. 2019 The coal for which Roy Karlsen prospected will, most likely, never be extracted.
—
Juliana Hanle, Scientific American, "The Fight for the Reindeer," 18 Nov. 2019 But Olczyk’s path to becoming an elite hockey player was temporarily detoured as a teenager when he was cut from a youth prospects camp.
—
Steve Reaven, chicagotribune.com, "Eddie Olczyk shares his journey during Hockey Night in Barrington," 26 Oct. 2019 Prior to his loss to Conwell, Day suffered a unanimous decision loss to prospect Carlos Adames and won six fights in a row before that, according to BoxRec.
—
Fox News, "Boxer Patrick Day, 27, dies days after brutal KO," 17 Oct. 2019 Joel was a past officer of the Meriden Mineral Club for many years and spent years prospecting the hills of Central CT.
—
courant.com, "Joel I. Sweet," 13 Oct. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prospect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for prospect
prospect
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of prospect
(Entry 1 of 2)
: the possibility that something will happen in the future
: an opportunity for something to happen
: someone or something that is likely to succeed or to be chosen
prospect
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of prospect (Entry 2 of 2)
: to search an area for gold, minerals, oil, etc.
See the full definition for prospect in the English Language Learners Dictionary
prospect
nounpros·pect | \ ˈprä-ˌspekt \
\Kids Definition of prospect
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : something that is waited for or expected : possibility … he was quite pleased at the prospect of a whole winter of reading travel books …— Richard and Florence Atwater, Mr. Popper's Penguins
2 : someone or something that is likely to be successful : a likely candidate
a presidential prospect
3 : a wide view
The room provides a prospect of sea and land.
prospect
verbprospected; prospecting
Kids Definition of prospect (Entry 2 of 2)
: to explore especially for mineral deposits
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on prospect
What made you want to look up prospect? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
More Confusing Words—Quiz
- The magician
______moved the selected card to the top of the deck.
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
- More Confusing Words—Quiz
How many of these commonly confused words do you know?
Take the quiz - Name that Thing: Toys and Games Edition
It's all fun and games until someone beats your high score.
Take the quiz - Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz - Add Diction
Build a chain of words by adding one letter at a time.
Play the game
Share prospect
Time Traveler for prospect
The first known use of prospect was in the 15th century
See more words from the same century