prospect

1 of 2

noun

pros·​pect ˈprä-ˌspekt How to pronounce prospect (audio)
1
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)
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 How to pronounce prospect (audio)
 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 How to pronounce prospect (audio)
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.

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
But the long-term prospects for tech in the Bay Area are like the future. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 This is the only team on which a former five-star prospect like Angela Dugalić could become an afterthought. Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Patrick Monteverde, who developed into a prospect with a strong year at Double A last year (3.32 ERA in 21 starts), end up pitching four scoreless innings in five spring innings. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Read the full Aries Daily Horoscope Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Feel good about your prospects? USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 Only now has Washington appeared to accede to demands that Henry step aside—at a moment when prospects could hardly be less promising for a respectable, responsible democrat to ascend into the Haitian presidency, and when many armed criminals are at the ready. Amy Wilentz, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2024 The Kansas City Royals have several prospects developing in their minor-league system. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2024 To improve his electoral prospects, Biden badly needs to turn those figures around. John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2024 Bellinger’s long-term fit with the Cubs is at least somewhat unclear as MLB Pipeline ranks defensively gifted center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong as the team’s No. 1 prospect (and 16th best in MLB). Phil Rogers, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024
Verb
Rowe, 56, came to Nevada prospecting for gold and copper, and was struck by the Ridge, a volcanic rock outcrop in the southwest part of the state. Christopher Helman, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Before Hoskins entered the fray, Milwaukee had only recently acquired Jake Bauers, utility man Owen Miller and prospect Tyler Black in the mix at first base. Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2024 Loke also holds two ISA contracts sponsored by the UK to prospect for polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone between Hawaii and Mexico. Todd Woody, Fortune Europe, 13 Jan. 2024 Huang’s business position can be compared to that of Samuel Brannan, the celebrated vender of prospecting supplies in San Francisco in the late eighteen-forties. Stephen Witt, The New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2023 Other starters in camp include Bruce Zimmermann, Jonathan Heasley, and prospects Seth Johnson, Cade Povich and Chayce McDermott. Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2024 On the pitching side, Marlins prospect Cody Mincey started two of Curacao’s six games, earning a no-decision in the win over Mexico after giving up two runs in 4 1/3 innings and getting the loss in the Dominican Republic game despite giving up just one run over 6 1/3 innings. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 8 Feb. 2024 The one-time designer of residential communities and golf courses is the chairman of the Sacramento County Planning Commission with hobbies that range from prospecting for gold to racing vintage cars. Debbie Arrington, Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024 And now, seven years later, the scars of those prospecting efforts remain. Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prospect.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of prospect was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near prospect

Cite this Entry

“Prospect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prospect. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prospect

1 of 2 noun
pros·​pect ˈpräs-ˌpekt How to pronounce prospect (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on prospect

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