prospect
Prospect (noun) means the possibility or likelihood of something happening in the future. Example: “The prospect of a pay rise motivated her to work harder.”
How to use prospect
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the chance that something will happen, a promising candidate, or (as a verb) to search for valuable minerals.
Word forms
prospected past tense, prospected past tense, prospects plural, prospects singular, prospects singular
Fill the gap
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The _____ of a pay rise motivated her to work harder.
Etymology
From Latin prospectus ("a view, outlook"), from prospicio ("to look forward"), from pro- ("forward") + specio ("to look"). A doublet of "prospectus."
Related words
Rhymes for prospect
See all rhymes for prospect →Frequently asked questions
What does “prospect” mean?
The word “prospect” means the possibility or likelihood of something happening in the future. In plain terms, either the chance that something will happen, a promising candidate, or (as a verb) to search for valuable minerals.
How do you pronounce “prospect”?
“Prospect” is pronounced PROS-pehkt (/ˈpɹɑspɛkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “prospect” in a sentence?
Here is “prospect” used in a sentence: “The prospect of a pay rise motivated her to work harder.”
What part of speech is “prospect”?
Depending on how it is used, “prospect” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “prospect” come from?
The word “prospect” comes from Latin. From Latin prospectus ("a view, outlook"), from prospicio ("to look forward"), from pro- ("forward") + specio ("to look"). A doublet of "prospectus.".
Is “prospect” a common word?
“Prospect” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “prospect” have?
“Prospect” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the possibility or likelihood of something happening in the future.
What is the difference between prospect and suspect in sales?
A prospect is a person who has been qualified as a genuine potential customer, meaning they fit the profile and may realistically buy. A suspect is an earlier, unverified lead who has not yet been confirmed as a good fit, so every prospect starts as a suspect but not every suspect becomes a prospect.
What is the difference between prospect and prospects?
The singular prospect usually means one potential customer, recruit, or athlete, or the general likelihood of something happening. The plural prospects most often refers to a person's future chances of success, as in 'her career prospects are excellent.'
What prepositions go with prospect?
Prospect is commonly followed by 'of' when describing a possibility, as in 'the prospect of rain.' It takes 'for' when describing outlook, as in 'good prospects for growth,' and is often paired with verbs like 'face,' 'raise,' or 'relish.'
Is prospect a noun or a verb?
Prospect is most often a noun meaning a future possibility or a potential customer or recruit. It can also be a verb meaning to search an area for gold, minerals, or other resources, as in 'to prospect for gold.'