prospect 1 of 2

1
as in view
all that can be seen from a certain point gazing at the wide prospect spread out before me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
as in possibility
something that can develop or become actual one highly desirable prospect for the city is a major-league franchise

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in anticipation
the act or state of looking forward to some occurrence the prospect of a quiet, restful Sunday ended when our basement flooded

Synonyms & Similar Words

prospect

2 of 2

verb

as in to explore
to go into or range over for purposes of discovery soon all manner of people had arrived in the valley to prospect it for gold

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun prospect differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of prospect are anticipation, foretaste, and outlook. While all these words 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

When might anticipation be a better fit than prospect?

The words anticipation and prospect are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, anticipation implies a prospect or outlook that involves advance suffering or enjoyment of what is foreseen.

the anticipation of her arrival

Where would foretaste be a reasonable alternative to prospect?

The synonyms foretaste and prospect are sometimes interchangeable, but foretaste implies an actual though brief or partial experience of something forthcoming.

the frost was a foretaste of winter

When could outlook be used to replace prospect?

Although the words outlook and prospect have much in common, outlook suggests a forecasting of the future.

a favorable outlook for the economy

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of prospect
Noun
Given his recent back-to-back victories, his chances of securing a championship have now risen, although the prospect is close to impossible, unless both McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri face considerable setbacks in the upcoming races. Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Sep. 2025 For a famously freewheeling show that relishes mocking everyone from Mormons and environmentalists to MAGA nut jobs and the trans community, the prospect was unsettling: Had the chill caught up to even them? Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
Los Angeles Angels prospect Rio Foster was hospitalized after a vehicle crash early Friday morning, the team said. Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025 In 2027, the company plans a prospecting mission to one of their target spots to analyze dirt samples. Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prospect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prospect
Noun
  • Presented with that statement, Amorim had a different view.
    Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • The mountains are awash with vibrant autumnal hues, which can be admired by driving the Catskill Mountains Scenic Byway, biking the Catskill Scenic Trail, or hiking the many trails with sweeping views of the area.
    Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In one of the videos, candidates are seen on the catwalk when the earthquake hits.
    Rajeev Tyagi, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The right candidate will discuss their holistic approach to meeting your financial goals, rather than immediately pushing products.
    Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Since September 2024, a new federal law requires mammogram reports to state whether breast tissue is dense, and to mention the possibility of additional imaging.
    Dr. Megha Gupta, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
  • This decrease in firepower, though, does open the possibility for some historically significant winners.
    Alan Light, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Almost every one of Thomas's targets came on an out-breaking route, which played into Lawrence's anticipation and velocity as a thrower while protecting Thomas from the middle of the field — and in this particular game, from Fred Warner.
    Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Labels drum up anticipation for these releases by distributing different variants to different retailers, keeping a tight lid on which version each store will carry.
    Heather Bushman, IndyStar, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Here are Madsen’s five places to recommend for dining and exploring in Scripps Ranch.
    Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Middle Tennessee's erosion-prone limestone and other hard bedrock have historically precluded Nashville leadership from exploring underground transportation.
    Hadley Hitson, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • As a result, a flurry of drinks, vapes, edibles, and smokable buds — many with the potential to get users high — are now widely available on store shelves across Wisconsin.
    Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • If there is a potential for temperatures to fall into these thresholds, a freeze watch may be issued a few days ahead of time.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The expectation was that rates could move more decisively on Friday, when the monthly employment report was set for release, but the government shutdown now has that in limbo.
    Diana Olick, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Armed with probably their best shot at making the NBA Finals since Patrick Ewing's '90s heyday, the 2025-26 New York Knicks are hoping not to shrink under the weight of hefty expectations.
    Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The cooler will be searched and tagged at the gate.
    Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Oct. 2025
  • The private archeological company exclusively searches for treasure and artifacts from the 1715 Treasure Fleet, a fleet of Spanish ships that sank off the coast of Florida in 1715 while carrying massive amounts of precious cargo, per the organization’s official website.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Prospect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prospect. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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