prospect
PROS-pehkt
Prospect (noun) means the possibility or likelihood of something happening in the future. Example: “The prospect of moving abroad both excited and worried the whole family.”
noun
1
The possibility or likelihood of something happening in the future.
"The prospect of moving abroad both excited and worried the whole family."
"The prospect of a pay rise motivated her to work harder."
"There is little prospect of the weather improving this week."
2
A person who might become a customer, employee, or promising athlete.
"The sales team called every prospect on the list before the end of the week."
"She is a promising young prospect, and several clubs want to sign her."
"The scout flagged him as a top prospect for the draft."
verb
1
To search an area for valuable minerals such as gold.
"Old miners spent years prospecting for silver in the hills."
"The company sent a small team to prospect for copper in the desert."
"They prospected for gold along the riverbank."
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.
Common pairings
future prospects
job prospect
prospect for gold
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Word forms
- Plural
- prospects
- Third person singular
- prospects
- Past tense
- prospected
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of moving abroad both excited and worried the whole family.
Etymology
From Latin prospectus ("a view, outlook"), from prospicio ("to look forward"), from pro- ("forward") + specio ("to look"). A doublet of "prospectus."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
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.'
