(~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If there is some ~ of something happening, there is a possibility that it will happen.
Unfortunately, there is little ~ of seeing these big questions answered...
The ~s for peace in the country’s eight-year civil war are becoming brighter...
There is a real ~ that the bill will be defeated in parliament.
N-VAR: with supp, oft N of n/-ing
2.
A particular ~ is something that you expect or know is going to happen.
They now face the ~ of having to wear a cycling helmet by law...
N-SING: usu with supp, oft N of n/-ing
3.
Someone’s ~s are their chances of being successful, especially in their career.
I chose to work abroad to improve my career ~s.
N-PLURAL: usu supp N
4.
When people ~ for oil, gold, or some other valuable substance, they look for it in the ground or under the sea.
He had ~ed for minerals everywhere from the Gobi Desert to the Transvaal...
In fact, the oil companies are already ~ing not far from here.
VERB: V for n, V
~ing
He was involved in oil, zinc and lead ~ing.
N-UNCOUNT
~or (~ors)
The discovery of gold brought a flood of ~ors into the Territories.
N-COUNT