prospect

[ pros-pekt ]

/ ˈprɒs pɛkt /

See synonyms for: prospect / prospected / prospecting / prospects on Thesaurus.com

noun

Usually prospects.

an apparent probability of advancement, success, profit, etc.
the outlook for the future: good business prospects.

anticipation; expectation; a looking forward.

something in view as a source of profit.

a potential or likely customer, client, etc.

a potential or likely candidate.

a view, especially of scenery; scene.

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

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

Mining.

an apparent indication of ore or native metal.
a place giving such indications.
a mine working or excavation undertaken in a search for additional ore.

Archaic. sight; range of vision.

verb (used with object)

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

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

verb (used without object)

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

SYNONYMS FOR prospect

7, 8 perspective.

See synonyms for prospect on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms for prospect

in prospect, under consideration; expected; in view: He had no other alternative in prospect.

Origin of prospect

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

synonym study for prospect

6, 7. See view.

OTHER WORDS FROM prospect

pros·pect·less, adjectivepros·pec·tor

[pros-pek-ter, pruh-spek-ter], /ˈprɒs pɛk tər, prəˈspɛk tər/, nounnon·pros·pect, nounun·der·pros·pect, noun

Words nearby prospect

prosopopoeia, prosoposchisis, prosopospasm, prosopyle, pro-Soviet, prospect, Prospect Heights, prospective, prospector, prospectus, prosper

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for prospect

Later in life, the undercontrolled 3-year-olds faced the worst prospects.
‘The Origins of You’ explores how kids develop into their adult selves|Bruce Bower|September 16, 2020|Science News
Far more valuable was the prospect of selling American gas in Europe.
Rick Perry’s Ukrainian Dream|by Simon Shuster, TIME, and Ilya Marritz, WNYC|September 10, 2020|ProPublica
For starters, they reliably pay dividends and have solid top-line prospects.
Global stocks climb—and futures jump—after Tuesday’s sell-off|Bernhard Warner|September 9, 2020|Fortune
They think this timeline can help control the spread of the coronavirus and bolster long-term economic prospects.
A second lockdown proposed by Trump would get more support from Americans than one proposed by Biden|Lance Lambert|September 5, 2020|Fortune

We need a President who will lead in the face of crisis, rather than cower at the prospect of assuming responsibility.
Donald Trump has failed to protect me and other students from COVID-19|jakemeth|September 3, 2020|Fortune
Then, German troops enlisted by the Brits (Hessians) began to attack at Battle Pass, located in Prospect Park.
The British Royals Reinvade Brooklyn: William and Kate Come Watch Basketball on Historic Battle Site|Justin Jones|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He married Chirlane in a ceremony in Prospect Park in Brooklyn.
The Wind Beneath de Blasio’s Wings|Michael Daly|November 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
As a child of Tornado Alley myself, I endorse the sentiment in this American Prospect piece by Monica Potts.
For Some People, Tornadoes Are a Part of Life|Justin Green|May 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
She thanked him now over her cellphone as she stood in the Clean and Bright Laundromat on Prospect Avenue.
Alphonza Bryant, the Slain Bronx Teen Who Did Everything Right|Michael Daly|May 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
At The American Prospect, Abby Rapoport cites a new study as evidence it won't happen.
Tea Partied Out?|Justin Green|April 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Towards the close of 1712 Tickell published his poem on the Prospect of Peace.
The Works of Alexander Pope, Volume 1|Alexander Pope
A woman was seen to smile, one morning just after the catastrophe, as she came down the steps of Prospect Hill, at Johnstown.
History of the Johnstown Flood|Willis Fletcher Johnson
On his return he found some very fine ground at the back of Prospect Hill.
An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Vol. 1|David Collins
It was fifteen miles to Prospect, where our nearest forces were.
A History of the Ninth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry|Marion Morrison
The road passes near Prospect Hill, which is the most conspicuous eminence in the county, and is cultivated to the summit.
Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia, Vol 1 (of 2)|Thomas Mitchell

British Dictionary definitions for prospect

prospect

noun (ˈprɒspɛkt)

(sometimes plural) a probability or chance for future success, esp as based on present work or aptitudea good job with prospects

a vision of the future; what is foreseen; expectationshe was excited at the prospect of living in London; unemployment presents a grim prospect

a view or scene, esp one offering an extended outlook

a prospective buyer, project, etc

a survey or observation

mining

a known or likely deposit of ore
the location of a deposit of ore
a sample of ore for testing
the yield of mineral obtained from a sample of ore

verb (prəˈspɛkt)

(when intr, often foll by for) to explore (a region) for gold or other valuable minerals

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

(intr often foll by for) to search (for)

Derived forms of prospect

prospectless, adjective

Word Origin for prospect

C15: from Latin prōspectus distant view, from prōspicere to look into the distance, from prō- forward + specere to look

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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