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prospect

prospect

425 3.3
A chance that something will happen in the future
  • noun
  • /ˈprɒspɛkt/
translation icon : perspectiva
  • Now, I was a second son without prospect of a fortune.
  • future prospects
  • employment prospects
  • job prospects

Now, isn't that kind of a a frightening prospect to contemplate?

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Examples

  • Many students are excited about the prospect of starting college next year.

  • Well, I am very excited about the prospects for these negotiations.

  • The "European century" seems a more likely prospect, or even a "second American century."

    Academic text (1999)
  • Unfortunately, we have no job prospects due to the pandemic.

  • For poor people who may rely on public transportation, the prospect can be daunting.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Time has had the effect of hardening positions and making the prospect of peace more remote.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Such an enhanced role raises the prospect of even higher litigation costs and judicial errors.

    Academic text (2017)
  • The rest of the world should neither relish nor fear the prospect of Chinese domination.

    Academic text (2011)
  • I conclude with questions that have arisen as well as prospects for future collaboration.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The prospect of a promotion motivated her to work harder.

Synonyms

chance
vsprospect
1.0

Possibility that something will happen, often an opportunity or risk

is a general future expectation rather than focusing on opportunity or risk
possibility
vsprospect
2.0

A chance that something may happen

is an expectation about future occurrence rather than the item itself
expectation
vsprospect
633 2.8

A belief that something will happen in the future

is a general possibility or prediction rather than a felt belief
probability
vsprospect
473 3.6

The chance that something will happen, often shown as a number or percent

is a broader expectation not limited to numeric measurement
promise
vsprospect
283 2.7

A sign that something good may happen in the future

is a neutral expectation rather than a positive hopeful sign
likelihood
vsprospect
274 3.6

The chance that something will happen

is broader, giving a general expectation rather than a measured degree
outlook
vsprospect
119 3.5

A general feeling or expectation about the future

is a forecast or chance estimate not a personal attitude or view
eventuality
vsprospect
16 6.5

A possible future event or outcome

is the anticipation or probability of such events rather than the events themselves
likeliness
vsprospect
3.6

The chance that something will happen

focuses more on general expectation and future outcomes than numeric estimate
contingence
vsprospect
  • Archaic
9.6

A possible future event that may happen by chance

is an expectation about future outcomes rather than the event occurring by chance

Antonyms

37 5.3

A situation in which something cannot happen

Compounds

Chance of getting a higher job at work

How Likely

certainty
  • Literature
202 3.4
probability
473 3.6
prospect
425 3.3
possibility
2.0
impossibility
37 5.3

Surface Forms

prospect singular
prospects plural

Etymology

Prospect comes from the Latin parts pro- 'forward' and specere 'to look', so it originally meant a 'look forward' or view of what is ahead. That's why a prospect can mean the chance or expectation of what may happen in the future.