Prospect vs. Potential — What's the Difference?

The possibility that something good might happen in the future.

Having or showing the capacity to develop into something in the future.

A landscape or view.

The possibility of something happening or of someone doing something in the future.

The potential success of someone in a future role.

An ability that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness.

Someone regarded as likely to succeed.

Latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success.

An outlook or search for future success or beneficiaries.

The inherent capacity for growth or development.

The possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring

Potential generally refers to a currently unrealized ability. The term is used in a wide variety of fields, from physics to the social sciences to indicate things that are in a state where they are able to change in ways ranging from the simple release of energy by objects to the realization of abilities in people.

A person regarded as likely to succeed or as a potential customer, client, etc.

Capable of being but not yet in existence; latent or undeveloped

An extensive view of landscape

(Grammar) Of, relating to, or being a verbal construction with auxiliaries such as may or can; for example, it may snow.

Search for mineral deposits, especially by drilling and excavation

The inherent ability or capacity for growth, development, or future success

Something expected; a possibility.

The possibility that something might happen or result from given conditions

Chances.

See electric potential.

Financial expectations, especially of success.

See gravitational potential.

A potential customer, client, or purchaser.

See magnetic potential.

A candidate deemed likely to succeed.

(Grammar) A potential verb form.

The direction in which an object, such as a building, faces; an outlook.

Currently unrealized ability (with the most common adposition being to)

Something presented to the eye; a scene

(physics) The gravitational potential: the radial (irrotational, static) component of a gravitational field, also known as the Newtonian potential or the gravitoelectric field.

The act of surveying or examining.

(physics) The work (energy) required to move a reference particle from a reference location to a specified location in the presence of a force field, for example to bring a unit positive electric charge from an infinite distance to a specified point against an electric field.

The location or probable location of a mineral deposit.

(grammar) A verbal construction or form stating something is possible or probable.

An actual or probable mineral deposit.

Existing in possibility, not in actuality.

The mineral yield obtained by working an ore.

(archaic) Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result

To search for or explore (a region) for mineral deposits or oil.

(physics) A potential field is an irrotational (static) field.

To explore for mineral deposits or oil.

(physics) A potential flow is an irrotational flow.

The region which the eye overlooks at one time; view; scene; outlook.

(grammar) Referring to a verbal construction of form stating something is possible or probable.

A picturesque or panoramic view; a landscape; hence, a sketch of a landscape.

Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result; efficacious; influential.

A position affording a fine view; a lookout.

Existing in possibility, not in actuality.

Relative position of the front of a building or other structure; face; relative aspect.

Anything that may be possible; a possibility; potentially.

The act of looking forward; foresight; anticipation.

In the theory of gravitation, or of other forces acting in space, a function of the rectangular coordinates which determine the position of a point, such that its differential coefficients with respect to the coördinates are equal to the components of the force at the point considered; - also called potential function, or force function. It is called also Newtonian potential when the force is directed to a fixed center and is inversely as the square of the distance from the center.

The potential things that may come to pass, often favorable.

The energy of an electrical charge measured by its power to do work; hence, the degree of electrification as referred to some standard, as that of the earth; electro-motive force.

A hope; a hopeful.

The inherent capacity for coming into being

(sports) Any player whose rights are owned by a top-level professional team, but who has yet to play a game for said team.

The difference in electrical charge between two points in a circuit expressed in volts

(sales) A potential client or customer.

Existing in possibility;

(music) The façade of an organ.

Expected to become or be; in prospect;

(intransitive) To search, as for gold.

To determine which minerals or metals are present in a location.

That which is embraced by eye in vision; the region which the eye overlooks at one time; view; scene; outlook.

Especially, a picturesque or widely extended view; a landscape; hence, a sketch of a landscape.

A position affording a fine view; a lookout.

Relative position of the front of a building or other structure; face; relative aspect.

The act of looking forward; foresight; anticipation; as, a prospect of the future state.

That which is hoped for; ground for hope or expectation; expectation; probable result; as, the prospect of success.

To look over; to explore or examine for something; as, to prospect a district for gold.

To make a search; to seek; to explore, as for mines or the like; as, to prospect for gold.

The possibility of future success;

Belief about (or mental picture of) the future

Someone who is considered for something (for an office or prize or honor etc.)

The visual percept of a region;

A prediction of the course of a disease

Search for something desirable;

Explore for useful or valuable things or substances, such as minerals

No, potential indicates capacity for success, but its realization often depends on various external factors.

Businesses can assess prospects by analyzing market trends and economic conditions, while potential is evaluated through assessments of resources, capabilities, and growth opportunities.

Prospect is about the expected outcomes based on current trends, while potential is about inherent qualities that allow for future development.

Education is crucial as it nurtures and develops a person’s inherent abilities, helping realize their potential.

Typically, but it can also relate to negative outcomes if the likelihood is of an unfavorable future event.

Yes, potential can change depending on how abilities are developed or circumstances that enhance or hinder these abilities.

Yes, prospects can be more predictable as they often rely on existing data and trends, unlike potential, which involves uncertain future capabilities.

Not exclusively; it can also refer to emotional, intellectual, or physical capacities.

Yes, a person can have both if they have inherent abilities (potential) and are in a situation where these can likely lead to success (prospects).

Yes, negative feedback can affect how others perceive someone’s likelihood of success, impacting their prospects.

Investors look at prospects to gauge the potential profitability of investments based on current and foreseeable conditions.

Yes, a project can have good prospects if it is well-planned and has high potential if it has innovative elements that could lead to significant impacts.

In sports, a prospect is often a young or new player expected to perform well in the future, while potential refers to their innate skills and abilities.

Factors include economic conditions, industry health, personal skills, and situational opportunities.

Through education, training, and exposure to the right opportunities and environments.