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
Serena Lin, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Initially enthusiastic about the prospect of humans living on Mars, the authors said their research turned them into space settlement skeptics.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024
In the course of Pickford’s career, the business of prospecting for wealth in the world’s oceans has changed dramatically.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for prospect 
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Noun
However, the prospect of virtual magistration has been met with considerable pushback from defense attorneys, social justice advocates and, notably, all 16 judges who sit on the Travis County Criminal District Court.
—Serena Lin, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Initially enthusiastic about the prospect of humans living on Mars, the authors said their research turned them into space settlement skeptics.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
Lopatin said the paleontologists who found the mummy were prospecting for mammoth tusks at the time.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024
In the course of Pickford’s career, the business of prospecting for wealth in the world’s oceans has changed dramatically.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 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 30 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
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