pros·pect
ˈprä-ˌspekt 
2
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)
: chances
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
pros·pect
ˈprä-ˌspekt
chiefly British prə-ˈspekt
prospected; prospecting; prospects
: to explore an area especially for mineral deposits
: to inspect (a region) for mineral deposits
broadly
: explore
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.
Synonyms
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
Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
Does a teenager really operate such that a six-game suspension prospect as against a one-game suspension prospect (the NCS policy) tips the scale in his psyche in favor of exercising self-restraint?
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Presently, prospecting is primarily done virtually, via phone, email or other digital means.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prospect 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
China is watching closely as the Russian strategy of waiting out Western interest in the war proves effective, which raises the prospect that China might adopt a similar strategy in pursuit of its ambitions to rule Taiwan and absorb the maritime zones of its neighbors.
—Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
Does a teenager really operate such that a six-game suspension prospect as against a one-game suspension prospect (the NCS policy) tips the scale in his psyche in favor of exercising self-restraint?
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
Candidates for the final spot include former World Series hero Ian Anderson, one-time All-Star Bryce Elder, plus prospects Hurston Waldrep, and AJ Smith-Shawver in addition to Canning.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Presently, prospecting is primarily done virtually, via phone, email or other digital means.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prospect
Dictionary Entries Near prospect
Cite this Entry
“Prospect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prospect. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prospect
1 of 2 noun
pros·pect
ˈpräs-ˌpekt
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share