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
Declining births is a real concern for school districts like Keller, as is the prospect of more families considering private education after the passage of Texas Senate Bill 2, which will provide public money for private school tuition and home school costs. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2025 And while the weather brightened as the talks went on, the prospects for peace did not. Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 16 May 2025
Verb
Eric Lauer logged the bulk of a bullpen game Wednesday against the Red Sox, Easton Lucas could return after a Triple-A rebound (six shutout innings against the Iowa Cubs), and prospect Jake Bloss, Keith Law’s No. 6 in the system, could make the jump back to the big leagues. Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 3 May 2025 Orioles prospect Jud Fabian's strikeout rate has fallen 13 percentage points and his walk rate has doubled as a result of a swing change. Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prospect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prospect
Noun
  • Because there's no optical view through the lens, camera makers are able to lean on digital corrections to remedy optical distortion, which in turn makes smaller lens designs with fewer glass elements possible.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 20 May 2025
  • And her militant feminist views have won her enemies who would like nothing more than to send her to prison.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • The race for the party’s nomination to replace Durbin, who was an ally of Kelly’s, isn’t the first time the seven-term Democratic congresswoman from Matteson has faced off against a candidate backed by the billionaire governor and his political apparatus.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2025
  • Current director of player personnel Reed Burckhardt is among the internal candidates for a promotion.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
    Emily Blackwood, People.com, 17 May 2025
  • Transformational communication yields opportunities and possibilities.
    Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • After weeks of anticipation and at least one sellout on Dior.com, the product is finally back in stock.
    Claire Sullivan, Footwear News, 22 May 2025
  • That’s why their launches feel more like wedding season than most other brands: full of anticipation, full of emotion, full of meaning.
    Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Review Biden’s diminished capacities and cover-up explored in painful, if necessary, book May 17, 2025 Negative reaction to Biden’s alarmingly disastrous performance led him to abandon his campaign three weeks later and Vice President Kamala Harris to take his place on the 2024 Democratic ticket.
    Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
  • Jamaican fibre artist Katrina Coombs engages with natural fibers to explore women’s relationships to their bodies, specifically their wombs, and their experiences within and beyond the role of motherhood.
    Byron Armstrong, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Rising in North Bay Village, Shoma Bay has the potential to enhance the neighborhood as one of Miami’s prominent waterfront destinations.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • More recently, however, enterprises have begun to see the potential of this medium, particularly as quality has improved.
    David Prosser, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • The University of Michigan’s sentiment index dropped to 50.8 in May, with inflation expectations ticking higher.
    John Buckingham, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • What are the expectations for Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland?
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • Hundreds of federal, state, and local law enforcement officials are searching for the escapees.
    John Bacon, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • In an era where consumer attention is fleeting and digital content saturation is at an all-time high, marketers are searching for ways to create more engaging, interactive experiences.
    Jiajun Lu, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prospect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prospect. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on prospect

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!