prospective

USpruh-SPEK-tiv/pɹəˈspɛktɪv/

9 meanings of prospective

1
adjective
Likely to happen or to come about in the future.
Like dark clouds that show rain is likely on the way.
The prospective deal could create hundreds of new jobs.
Many people worried about the prospective rise in prices.
Similarpotential, likely, expected, anticipated, possible
Note
2
adjective
Expected to come at some time in the future, whether soon or far away.
She saved money for her prospective trip around the world.
The team mapped out their prospective games for next season.
Similarfuture, planned, intended, projected, proposed
Oppositepast
3
adjective
Looking ahead and thinking about what may come.
Like a driver watching the road far ahead, not just the front of the car.
A prospective mind helps you get ready for hard times.
Their prospective planning saved the farm during the drought.
Similarforward-looking, farsighted, anticipatory, proactive
Oppositeretrospective, backward-looking, reactive
4
nouncolloquialcountable
A person who might join, enroll, or sign up but has not yet.
Like a shopper still looking around who has not bought anything yet.
The coach welcomed each prospective at the open practice.
Dozens of prospectives showed up to tour the school.
Similarprospect, candidate, applicant, hopeful, recruit
Note
5
adjective
Giving a wide view, or having to do with a view.
Like a big window that opens onto a long view.
Guests loved the inn's prospective terrace, which looked out over the bay.
The hall's prospective windows framed the distant mountains.
Similarpanoramic, commanding, scenic
Note
6
adjective
About a study that starts now and follows people as time goes on.
Like watching seeds grow day by day, instead of digging up old plants to see what already happened.
Doctors ran a prospective study that tracked patients for ten years.
The prospective survey followed new parents from the birth of their child onward.
Oppositeretrospective
Note
7
adjective
In grammar, showing that an action is just about to begin.
Like a runner crouched at the start line, just before the race begins.
The prospective form tells you the action has not quite started.
Teachers explained how a prospective marker shows something is about to happen.
Note

Less common meanings

8
nounobsolete
A view or scene that lies in front of you.
the whole Scene of affairs was changed from Spain to France there now lay the prospective
1642, Henry Wotton, A Short View of the Life and Death of George VilliersHere, prospective means the view or scene ahead.
Note
9
nounobsolete
An old tool like a small telescope, used to see far-off things.
Like an old telescope you hold up to one eye.
The sailor lifted his prospective to watch the distant ship.
She studied the far hills through a small brass prospective.
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Middle French "prospectif", which came from Late Latin "prospectivus".