prospect

American  

[pros-pekt] / ˈprɒs pɛkt /

noun

1. Usually prospects

   1. an apparent probability of advancement, success, profit, etc.

   2. the outlook for the future.

      good business prospects.

2. anticipation; expectation; a looking forward.

3. something in view as a source of profit.

4. a potential or likely customer, client, etc.

5. a potential or likely candidate.

6. a view, especially of scenery; scene.

7. outlook or view over a region or in a particular direction.

8. a mental view or survey, as of a subject or situation.

   Synonyms:

   perspective

9. Mining.

   1. an apparent indication of ore or native metal.

   2. a place giving such indications.

   3. a mine working or excavation undertaken in a search for additional ore.

10. Archaic. sight; range of vision.

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verb (used with object)

1. to search or explore (a region), as for gold.

2. to work (a mine or claim) experimentally in order to test its value.

3. to make a careful survey of; examine or evaluate.

   Another local firm uses the same telemarketer to prospect the northern Brisbane market.

verb (used without object)

1. to search or explore a region for gold or the like.

2. to make a search; look for something.

   As a freelancer, you will be prospecting for clients.

idioms

1. in prospect, under consideration; expected; in view.

   He had no other alternative in prospect.

prospect British  

noun

1. (sometimes plural) a probability or chance for future success, esp as based on present work or aptitude

   a good job with prospects

2. a vision of the future; what is foreseen; expectation

   she was excited at the prospect of living in London

   unemployment presents a grim prospect

3. a view or scene, esp one offering an extended outlook

4. a prospective buyer, project, etc

5. a survey or observation

6. mining

   1. a known or likely deposit of ore

   2. the location of a deposit of ore

   3. a sample of ore for testing

   4. the yield of mineral obtained from a sample of ore

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verb

1. to explore (a region) for gold or other valuable minerals

2. (tr) to work (a mine) to discover its profitability

3. to search (for)

Usage

What does prospect mean? A prospect is a specific outlook for one’s future, usually leaning toward a positive outcome. It is often used in the plural, as in If Julie doesn’t improve her grades, her prospects for college will be slim. More generally, prospect is a looking forward or anticipation, as in With all this extra work, the prospect of going home early isn’t looking good. In business, prospect has several specific meanings. A prospect could be a source of profit, such as a new product. Prospect could also be a potential client or customer, as in The sales team is always looking for prospects to sell to. Or a prospect could be a potential employee, as in HR sent us several prospects for our job opening. To prospect means to search, often for something that will provide a positive outcome, like a job or a client. More specifically, prospect is used to mean to explore an area for gold or similar, as in The gold rush of 1849 led to a lot of prospecting in California. Example: I gave up all of my prospects in banking to chase my passion for photography.

Related Words

See view.

Other Word Forms

• nonprospect
  noun
• prospectless
  adjective
• prospector
  noun
• underprospect
  noun

Etymology

Origin of prospect

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English prospecte, from Latin prōspectus “outlook, view”; see prospectus

Explanation

A prospect is the possibility that something fabulous will happen. After you graduate top of your class at Harvard, for example, your job prospects look great. Prospect is from the Latin word prospectus which means a "view or outlook." A prospect is still a way of looking ahead and expecting good things. It's like potential in that it's something that might be but isn't yet. There is also the potential for something bad to happen, but prospects usually look good. In the 1800s, when men in floppy brown hats started saying "There's gold in them there hills!" the noun became a verb — to prospect is to search for gold. Either way, when you have prospects, you have a golden future.

Example Sentences

Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, owned by Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, has spent $400 million on a processing plant that should be operational in the coming weeks, its representative Patience Chizodza told state broadcaster ZBC.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

Black and openly gay, Hudson still lives in the Prospect Heights brownstone where she grew up.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 27, 2025

Three months and one heartworm treatment later, I carried Bob to the adoption event in Prospect Park.

From Slate • Sep. 4, 2025

St. John went birding for the first time last year in Prospect Park.

From Salon • Jul. 29, 2025

Prospect Park is one of my favorite places in Brooklyn, but being here with Ma makes me feel more nervous than excited.

From "Dragons in a Bag" by Zetta Elliott

Related Words

• anticipation
• chance
• expectation
• forecast
• future
• hope
• likelihood
• plan
• possibility
• probability
• promise
• proposal
• thought