project

[ noun proj-ekt, -ikt; verb pruh-jekt ]

/ noun ˈprɒdʒ ɛkt, -ɪkt; verb prəˈdʒɛkt /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: project / projects on Thesaurus.com

noun

something that is contemplated, devised, or planned; plan; scheme: I have several little projects around the house that I’d like to tackle in my time off.

a large or major undertaking, especially one involving considerable money, personnel, and equipment: The city is undertaking several public works projects to modernize and upgrade infrastructure.

a specific task of investigation, especially in scholarship: Federal funding supports some cancer-related projects while other research is sustained by private grants.

Education. a supplementary, long-term educational assignment necessitating personal initiative, undertaken by an individual student or a group of students: For my literature class project, I wrote an original rock opera and performed one song from it.

the projects, Informal. a housing project, typically one constructed as a development of high-rise towers with apartments for low-income residents, especially in the second half of the 20th century: Back in those days, the projects were no place to raise a family.

verb (used with object) pro·ject

[pruh-jekt] /prəˈdʒɛkt/

to propose, contemplate, or plan.

to throw, cast, or impel forward or onward.

to set forth or calculate (some future thing): They projected the building costs for the next five years.

to throw or cause to fall upon a surface or into space, as a ray of light or a shadow.

to cause (a figure or image) to appear, as on a background.

to regard (something within the mind, as a feeling, thought, or attitude) as having some form of reality outside the mind:He projected a thrilling picture of the party's future.

to cause to jut out or protrude.

Geometry.

to throw forward an image of (a figure or the like) by straight lines or rays, either parallel, converging, or diverging, that pass through all its points and reproduce it on another surface or figure.
to transform the points (of one figure) into those of another by a correspondence between points.

to present (an idea, program, etc.) for consideration or action: They made every effort to project the notion of world peace.

to use (one's voice, gestures, etc.) forcefully enough to be perceived at a distance, as by all members of the audience in a theater.

to communicate clearly and forcefully (one's thoughts, personality, role, etc.) to an audience, as in a theatrical performance; produce a compelling image of.

to cause (the voice) to appear to come from a source other than oneself, as in ventriloquism; throw.

verb (used without object) pro·ject

[pruh-jekt] /prəˈdʒɛkt/

to extend or protrude beyond something else.

to use one's voice forcefully enough to be heard at a distance, as in a theater.

to produce a clear impression of one's thoughts, personality, role, etc., in an audience; communicate clearly and forcefully.

Psychology. to ascribe one's own feelings, thoughts, or attitudes to others.

OTHER WORDS FOR project

1 proposal.

6 contrive, scheme, plot, devise.

8 predict.

18 bulge, obtrude, overhang.

See synonyms for project on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of project

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun project(e) “design, plan,” from Medieval Latin prōjectum, Latin: “projecting part,” noun use of neuter of Latin prōjectus, past participle of prōicere “to throw forward, extend,” equivalent to prō- pro-¹ + -icere, combining form of jacere “to throw”

synonym study for project

1. See plan.

OTHER WORDS FROM project

pro·ject·a·ble, adjectivepro·ject·ing·ly, adverbcoun·ter·proj·ect, nounnon·pro·ject·ing, adjective

re·pro·ject, verbsubproject, nounun·pro·ject·ed, adjectiveun·pro·ject·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use project in a sentence

We built the tour budget ourselves and modeled projected revenue against expenses.
How Much Money Does a Band Really Make on Tour?|Jack Conte|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Most of the Atari employees I saw projected an aura of almost delirious bliss.
‘Asteroids’ & The Dawn of the Gamer Age|David Owen|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The company now estimates it will cost $8 billion, nearly 50 percent more than the $5.4 billion projected six years ago.
Why the Keystone XL Pipeline May Not Be Built|Robert Bryce|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For instance, in Arkansas, a projected 57 percent of voters backed Republican Tom Cotton for the Senate.
How’d the GOP Win? By Running Left|Sally Kohn|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

When his success was finally projected for the crowd—a 58 to 40 win—the crowd roared, popcorn spilling onto the floor.
Mitch’s Brotastic Victory Bash|Olivia Nuzzi|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He did not speak to Nigel of the projected visit, and Nigel did not say anything more about Mrs. Chepstow.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
But scarcely had the new ambassador arrived at his destination when he heard of Bonaparte's projected expedition to Egypt.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
It was thanks to the discovery of this plot that the Marshal first got information of his enemies' projected advance.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
In the center of the spot was a crude sign, projected in black lines upon the wall.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
Watching the projected sign of the eye upon the wall, he nevertheless moved swiftly and silently toward the French windows.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various

British Dictionary definitions for project

project

noun (ˈprɒdʒɛkt)

a proposal, scheme, or design

a task requiring considerable or concerted effort, such as one by students
the subject of such a task

US short for housing project

verb (prəˈdʒɛkt)

(tr) to propose or plan

(tr) to predict; estimate; extrapolatewe can project future needs on the basis of the current birth rate

(tr) to throw or cast forwards

to jut or cause to jut out

(tr) to send forth or transport in the imaginationto project oneself into the future

(tr) to cause (an image) to appear on a surface

to cause (one's voice) to be heard clearly at a distance

psychol

(intr) (esp of a child) to believe that others share one's subjective mental life
to impute to others (one's hidden desires and impulses), esp as a means of defending oneselfCompare introject

(tr) geometry to draw a projection of

(intr) to communicate effectively, esp to a large gathering

Word Origin for project

C14: from Latin prōicere to throw down, from pro- 1 + iacere to throw

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

project

OTHER WORDS FOR project

Origin of project

synonym study for project

OTHER WORDS FROM project

Words related to project

How to use project in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for project

Word Origin for project