First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1prospect
noun pros·pect \ˈprä-ˌspekt\
: the possibility that something will happen in the future
: an opportunity for something to happen
: someone or something that is likely to succeed or to be chosen
Full Definition of PROSPECT
1
: exposure 3b
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 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
— in prospect
: possible or likely for the future
See prospect defined for English-language learners
See prospect defined for kids
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Origin of PROSPECT
Related to PROSPECT
- Antonyms
- noncandidate
Synonym Discussion of PROSPECT
prospect, outlook, anticipation, foretaste mean an advance realization of something to come. prospect implies expectation of a particular event, condition, or development of definite interest or concern <the prospect of a quiet weekend>. outlook suggests a forecasting of the future <a favorable outlook for the economy>. anticipation implies a prospect or outlook that involves advance suffering or enjoyment of what is foreseen <the anticipation of her arrival>. foretaste implies an actual though brief or partial experience of something forthcoming <the frost was a foretaste of winter>.
Rhymes with PROSPECT
abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, object, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked
2prospect
verb pros·pect \ˈprä-ˌspekt, chiefly British prə-ˈ\
: to search an area for gold, minerals, oil, etc.
Full Definition of PROSPECT
intransitive verb
: to explore an area especially for mineral deposits
transitive verb
: to inspect (a region) for mineral deposits; broadly : explore
— pros·pec·tor \-ˌspek-tər, -ˈspek-\ noun
See prospect defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PROSPECT
1841
PROSPECT Defined for Kids
1prospect
noun pros·pect \ˈprä-ˌspekt\
Definition of PROSPECT for Kids
1
: something that is waited for or expected : possibility <… he was quite pleased at the prospect of a whole winter of reading travel books … — Richard and Florence Atwater, Mr. Popper's Penguins>
2
: someone or something that is likely to be successful : a likely candidate <a presidential prospect>
3
: a wide view <The room provides a prospect of sea and land.>
2prospect
verb
pros·pect·edpros·pect·ing
Definition of PROSPECT for Kids
: to explore especially for mineral deposits
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