prospect
PROS-pekt
/ˈprɒspekt/
The possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring; as a verb, to search for mineral deposits.
Usually refers to a positive or neutral future possibility, though it can be used for negative ones (e.g., 'the prospect of war').
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'prospectus', meaning a 'view' or 'outlook'. It literally means looking forward into the distance to see what is coming toward you.
Word relationships
- possibility: Possibility is neutral; prospect often implies a more concrete expectation or a 'view' of the future.
- likelihood: Likelihood refers to the probability of something happening.
- retrospect: Looking back at the past rather than forward to the future.
Commonly confused with
- perspective: Perspective is a way of seeing; prospect is something you might see in the future.
Word family
- prospective (adjective): Likely to happen or become.
- prospector (noun): A person who searches for minerals.
Collocations
- job prospects
- the prospect of
- daunting prospect
Example sentences
- "The prospect of a promotion kept him working late every night." Career
- "The old miners used to prospect for gold in these hills during the 1800s." Mining
Memory hook
Pro (forward) + spect (look) = looking forward to the future. Looking forward.
When not to use
Do not use for things that are certain; use for possibilities.
Fun facts
- In the 16th century, a 'prospect' was a wide view of a landscape, like from a balcony.
Related words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.