prospect

A prospect is a specific outlook for one’s future, usually leaning toward a positive outcome. It is often used in the plural, as in If Julie doesn’t improve her grades, her prospects for college will be slim.

More generally, prospect is a looking forward or anticipation, as in With all this extra work, the prospect of going home early isn’t looking good.

In business, prospect has several specific meanings. A prospect could be a source of profit, such as a new product.

Prospect could also be a potential client or customer, as in The sales team is always looking for prospects to sell to.

Or a prospect could be a potential employee, as in HR sent us several prospects for our job opening.

To prospect means to search, often for something that will provide a positive outcome, like a job or a client.

More specifically, prospect is used to mean to explore an area for gold or similar, as in The gold rush of 1849 led to a lot of prospecting in California.

Example: I gave up all of my prospects in banking to chase my passion for photography.

The first records of the term prospect come from the 1400s. It comes from the Latin prōspectus, meaning “outlook” or “view.”

If you have something you’re planning for  or expecting, you might say that it’s in prospect, as in The building designs are in prospect right now. You can also use this phrase when you’re making a major change in your life, like looking for a new job. You would say your plans are in prospect.

If you’re in prospect of becoming a word nerd, we’d say that if you keep reading our articles, your prospects are very good!

What are some other forms related to prospect?

• prospectless (adjective)
• prospector (noun)
• prospecting (noun, adjective, verb)
• underprospect (noun)

What are some synonyms for prospect?

• anticipation
• chance
• forecast
• aspect

What are some words that share a root or word element with prospect? 

• prospective
• prospectus
• prospector

What are some words that often get used in discussing prospect?

• business
• economic
• property
• venture

Prospect is often used in relatively formal situations, especially regarding money or property, but can also be used in casual conversations.

The tremendous excitement at the prospect of going home to lie down quietly for as long as possible

— VeryBritishProblems (@SoVeryBritish) December 11, 2015

Can't sleep, I see the prospect of breakfast slipping away… #insomnia

— Dan Richards (@GuitarmanDan) June 22, 2015

Red Sox agree to a deal with Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada. (via @MLB)

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 23, 2015

Is prospect used correctly in the following sentence?

With three strong job offers to consider, Juan had no prospects for his future.