prospective
Americanadjective
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of or in the future.
prospective earnings.
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potential, likely, or expected.
a prospective partner.
adjective
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looking towards the future
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(prenominal) anticipated or likely
Other Word Forms
- prospectively adverb
- prospectiveness noun
Etymology
Origin of prospective
From the Late Latin word prōspectīvus, dating back to 1580–90. See prospectus, -ive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In essence, the neighboring sale upped the ante as far as Behar’s listing is concerned—and also encouraged her agents to start thinking about other ways they could prove the home’s potential to prospective buyers.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026
We saw documents outlining similar scam scenarios, in multiple languages, to build trust with the victims and reassure them about prospective "investments".
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026
Cal State L.A. will receive $48 million to add more students to its master of social work programs and provide more than 1,000 scholarships and grants for prospective students.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026
On a notebook on her coffee table, she wrote Cynthia Renee Ortiz, doodling hearts around her prospective married name.
From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026
He wasn’t baby-cute anymore, and it was a hard-and-fast rule that prospective parents wanted babies.
From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
