prospect

[ pros-pekt ]
See synonyms for: prospectprospectedprospectingprospects on Thesaurus.com

noun
  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.

  1. something in view as a source of profit.

  2. a potential or likely customer, client, etc.

  3. a potential or likely candidate.

  4. a view, especially of scenery; scene.

  5. outlook or view over a region or in a particular direction.

  6. a mental view or survey, as of a subject or situation.

  7. 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.

  8. Archaic. sight; range of vision.

verb (used with object)
  1. to search or explore (a region), as for gold.

  2. to work (a mine or claim) experimentally in order to test its value.

  1. to make a careful survey of; examine or evaluate: Another local firm uses the same telemarketer to prospect the northern Brisbane market.

verb (used without object)
  1. to search or explore a region for gold or the like.

  2. to make a search; look for something: As a freelancer, you will be prospecting for clients.

Idioms about prospect

  1. in prospect, under consideration; expected; in view: He had no other alternative in prospect.

Origin of prospect

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English prospecte, from Latin prōspectus “outlook, view”; see prospectus

synonym study For prospect

6, 7. See view.

Other words for prospect

Other words from prospect

  • pros·pect·less, adjective
  • pros·pec·tor [pros-pek-ter, pruh-spek-ter], /ˈprɒs pɛk tər, prəˈspɛk tər/, noun
  • non·pros·pect, noun
  • un·der·pros·pect, noun

Words Nearby prospect

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use prospect in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prospect

prospect

noun(ˈprɒspɛkt)
  1. (sometimes plural) a probability or chance for future success, esp as based on present work or aptitude: a good job with prospects

  2. a vision of the future; what is foreseen; expectation: she was excited at the prospect of living in London; unemployment presents a grim prospect

  1. a view or scene, esp one offering an extended outlook

  2. a prospective buyer, project, etc

  3. a survey or observation

  4. mining

    • a known or likely deposit of ore

    • the location of a deposit of ore

    • a sample of ore for testing

    • the yield of mineral obtained from a sample of ore

verb(prəˈspɛkt)
  1. (when intr, often foll by for) to explore (a region) for gold or other valuable minerals

  2. (tr) to work (a mine) to discover its profitability

  1. (intr often foll by for) to search (for)

Origin of prospect

1
C15: from Latin prōspectus distant view, from prōspicere to look into the distance, from prō- forward + specere to look

Derived forms of prospect

  • prospectless, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012