Definition of prospect
1 : exposure 3b
2a (1) : an extensive view (2) : a mental consideration : surveyb : a place that commands an extensive view : lookoutc : something extended to the view : scened archaic : a sketch or picture of a scene
3 obsolete : aspect
4a : the act of looking forward : anticipationb : a mental picture of something to come : visionc : something that is awaited or expected : possibilityd prospects plural (1) : financial expectations (2) : chances
5 : a place showing signs of containing a mineral deposit
6a : a potential buyer or customerb : a likely candidate for a job or position
in prospect
: possible or likely for the future
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Examples of prospect in a Sentence
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.
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.
Synonym Discussion of prospect
Definition of prospect
intransitive verb
: to explore an area especially for mineral deposits
transitive verb
: to inspect (a region) for mineral deposits; broadly : explore
Examples of prospect in a Sentence
soon all manner of people had arrived in the valley to prospect it for gold
1834
First Known Use of prospect
1834
PROSPECT Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of prospect for English Language Learners
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: the possibility that something will happen in the future
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: an opportunity for something to happen
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: someone or something that is likely to succeed or to be chosen
Definition of prospect for English Language Learners
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: to search an area for gold, minerals, oil, etc.
PROSPECT Defined for Kids
Definition of prospect for Students
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.
Definition of prospect for Students
prospected
;prospecting
: to explore especially for mineral deposits
Learn More about prospect
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See words that rhyme with prospect Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for prospect Spanish Central: Translation of prospect Nglish: Translation of prospect for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of prospect for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prospect
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