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.
He expanded the role of the proposed board in the last week that included a $1 billion fee for a permanent seat, according to a charter sent to prospective members, including world leaders.
But because students can apply to dozens, or even hundreds, of jobs, this creates a matching problem: How does a prospective employer know which candidates are serious?
Analysts—along with homeowners and prospective home buyers—will be watching the president’s address next week for additional housing-policy suggestions.
From Barron's
“For example, they may be trying to find a middle ground, perhaps invalidating the tariffs but limiting refunds to ‘prospective relief’ only, not to past tariffs collected.
From MarketWatch
Uncertainty about the job market is also making prospective buyers nervous about making a big purchase.
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.