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⇱ prospect - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

prospect

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations noun: /ˈprɒspɛkt/, verb: /prəˈspɛkt/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈprɑspɛkt/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(pros′pekt)



WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pros•pect /ˈprɑspɛkt/USA pronunciation   n. 
  1. Usually, prospects. [plural] a person's chances of advancement, success, profit, etc.:chosen for his good prospects as a leader.
  2. anticipation;
    expectation: [uncountable]the prospect of facing yet another day without hope.[countable]Prospects for peace have improved.
  3. a possible or likely customer, client, candidate, etc.:[countable]I've lined up a few prospects for the job.
  4. [countable] a view, esp. of scenery over a region;
    a scene.

v. 
  1. Miningto search or explore (a region), as for gold or some precious minerals: [no object]Early settlers came to prospect for gold.[~ + object]Some of the miners prospected the land.
Idioms
  1. Idioms in prospect, expected;
    in view:no other alternative in prospect.

See -spec-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pros•pect  (pros′pekt),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Usually, prospects. 
    • an apparent probability of advancement, success, profit, etc.
    • the outlook for the future:good business prospects.
  2. anticipation; expectation;
    a looking forward.
  3. something in view as a source of profit.
  4. a potential or likely customer, client, etc.
  5. a potential or likely candidate.
  6. a view, esp. of scenery;
    scene.
  7. outlook or view over a region or in a particular direction.
  8. a mental view or survey, as of a subject or situation.
  9. Mining
    • an apparent indication of ore or native metal.
    • a place giving such indications.
    • a mine working or excavation undertaken in a search for additional ore.
  10. [Archaic.]sight;
    range of vision.
  11. Idioms in prospect, under consideration;
    expected;
    in view:He had no other alternative in prospect.

v.t. 
  1. Miningto search or explore (a region), as for gold.
  2. Miningto work (a mine or claim) experimentally in order to test its value.

v.i. 
  1. Miningto search or explore a region for gold or the like.
  • Latin prōspectus outlook, view. See prospectus
  • late Middle English prospecte 1400–50
pros′pect•less, adj. 
    6. 7. See view. 7. 8. perspective.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
prospect n /ˈprɒspɛkt/
  1. (sometimes plural) a probability or chance for future success, esp as based on present work or aptitude
  2. a view or scene, esp one offering an extended outlook
  3. a prospective buyer, project, etc
  4. a survey or observation
    • a known or likely deposit of ore
    • the location of a deposit of ore
    • the yield of mineral obtained from a sample of ore
 vb /prəˈspɛkt/
  1. when intr, often followed by for: to explore (a region) for gold or other valuable minerals
  2. (transitive) to work (a mine) to discover its profitability
  3. (intransitive) often followed by for: to search (for)
Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin prōspectus distant view, from prōspicere to look into the distance, from prō- forward + specere to look
'prospect' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: [smiled, grinned] at the mere prospect [of, that], is [an exciting, a mouth-watering] prospect, at the prospect of [having, being, winning], more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "prospect" in the title:

a decent prospect of paying one's losses
a prospect of same boxed bones
a prospect that bolsters <the case> for future missions
a realistic prospect of conviction
A.R.A. with more in prospect. Money? You roll in it, I suppose.
against that prospect speaks
and, with it, any reasonable prospect…
as the prospect of imminent strikes on the Middle Eastern country <retreated>
benefit for the prospect of working
bittered William to the prospect of marriage
bounty and prospect
career prospect or prospects
Cast doubt on certainty/prospect etc of
daunting prospect
Do / conduct a prospect / data mining
dread the prospect of
even to the prospect
excited by or excited at the prospect?
exclude every glimpse of prospect
floating or coiled down under water by Prospect Cliff
Frightening prospect
He has held out the prospect of a clash
How to use the word "prospect"
I mentioned that before the prospect of repeat custom is
I walked out on the Prospect Point Observation Tower
I'm about as excited by the prospect as you are...
improve the prospect
In prospect
In the remote prospect
likelihood vs. prospect
more...

Look up "prospect" at Merriam-Webster
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