project

SayPRO-jektUS/ˈpɹɑˌd͡ʒɛkt/UK/ˈpɹɒd͡ʒ.ɛkt/

As a verbpruh-JEKT

Pluralprojects

Verbprojects, projecting, projected

15 meanings of project

Practice

1
planned worknouncountable
A planned piece of work with a clear goal, done in several steps.
Like a recipe with several steps you follow until the meal is ready.
Our team is working on a big project at the office.
She finished her science project the night before it was due.
UsageSay work on a project.
Similarplan, scheme
2
forecastverbtransitive
To work out ahead of time what something will be, such as future sales or costs.
Like guessing tomorrow's weather from the clouds you see today.
The company projects strong sales for next year.
Experts project a rise in food prices.
UsageOften be projected to: sales are projected to grow.
Similarforecast, foresee, foretell
Note
3
give impressionverbreflexivetransitive
To show a certain image of yourself to other people, often a good one.
Like wearing a smile so others see you as friendly.
She projects confidence whenever she speaks in public.
Good leaders project calm during a crisis.
UsageOften project confidence or project an image.
Similarconvey, exude, radiate, display, show
Note
4
show on screenverbtransitive
To throw light or an image onto a surface, or to throw something forward.
Like a flashlight throwing a bright circle onto the ceiling.
The teacher projects the slides onto the wall.
They project movies onto a large outdoor screen.
UsageOften project something onto a screen.
Similarthrow, cast, hurl, fling, launch
Note

Less common meanings

5
verbintransitive
To stick out past the edge or surface of something, or to make something stick out.
Like a diving board sticking out over a pool.
A narrow shelf projects from the wall above the desk.
The rocks project out over the sea.
UsageOften project from something.
Similarprotrude, jut, extend
6
verbtransitive
To speak or sing loudly and clearly so people far away can hear you.
Like throwing a ball far instead of just dropping it at your feet.
Singers learn to project their voices without shouting.
She projects her voice so the back row can hear.
UsageOften project your voice.
Oppositemumble
7
public housingnounUScountable
A building or group of buildings in a city that gives low-cost homes to poor families.
Like an apartment building the city builds for families who don't have much money.
She grew up in a housing project on the east side of town.
Many families in the projects struggle to pay their rent.
UsageOften in the projects.
Similarestate
Note
8
feelings onto othersverbtransitive
To put your own feelings or thoughts onto another person, thinking they feel the same way you do.
Like thinking everyone else is cold just because you feel cold yourself.
People often project their own fears onto those around them.
I tend to project my insecurities onto my closest friends.
UsageOften project feelings onto someone.
Similartransfer, attribute, impose
Note
9
raw talentnouncountable
A young player a team picks hoping good coaching will turn them into a star.
Like a young plant you grow carefully, hoping it becomes big and strong.
The coach signed a raw project and spent two years developing him.
Every team takes a chance on a project or two each season.
Similarprospect
Note
10
geometryverbtransitive
To map the points of a shape onto a surface by drawing lines from a single fixed point.
Like how a lamp casts the shadow of your hand onto a wall.
Mathematicians project a cube onto a plane to study its shadow-like image.
To project a sphere onto a flat map, you draw lines outward from its center.
Similarmap
Note
11
noundatedcountable
A plan that sounds nice but cannot really work or be carried out.
Similarscheme, fantasy, chimera
Note
12
nounobsolete
A part that sticks out from a surface or edge.
Similarprotrusion, protuberance
Note
13
nounobsolete
An object thrown or shot through the air as a weapon.
Similarmissile
Note
14
verb
To change map data so it uses a different way of showing the round earth on a flat surface.
15
verb
Of a brain cell, to send out a long fiber that reaches and affects a distant area.

Practice

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Origin

From Latin prōiectus, meaning thrown forth. It comes from a verb meaning to throw forward or extend.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Project derives from Latin prōiectus, meaning ‘thrown forth’. en.wiktionary.org
The underlying Latin verb means ‘to throw forward’ or ‘extend’. en.wiktionary.org