prospective

adjective

Definition of prospectivenext
as in potential
likely to be or become something at a later time The school had a luncheon for prospective students.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of prospective The best way to evaluate prospective agents is to interview at least a few of them. — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 12 Aug. 2026 Most recent studies on coffee have primarily focused on prospective cohorts; such investigations have followed tens of thousands of people for decades to track their habits and health outcomes. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 11 Aug. 2026 Carro also asked the parties Tuesday to confer with each other on the questionnaire for prospective jurors. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026 High land prices also compound barriers for prospective farmers, including minorities who face historical inequities in land ownership and access to funding, according to the report. — Charlotte Observer, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prospective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prospective
  1. potential
  2. future
  3. possible
Adjective
  • The district has released a set of maps, outlining the potential changes.
    — James Taylor, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The term refers to when tobacco companies in the 1990s were forced to pay billions of dollars for misleading the public about the safety and potential harms of their products, and subsequently saw their power and influence dramatically diminished.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of potential
Adjective
  • No application has been filed and any future project would first require a code change, environmental review, and approvals through the planning commission and city council.
    — Nina Burns, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Mercury in your 9th House of Learning and Perspective sextiles Venus in your 11th House of Community, helping vision, friendship, and future plans connect.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of future
Adjective
  • Muso’s model of proactive community healthcare is showing what becomes possible when care moves closer to families.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 18 Aug. 2026
  • One possible trigger for bitcoin to break out of its unusually calm trading range could come from the bond market.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of possible

Browse Nearby Words

prospecting
prospective
prospects
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prospective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prospective. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on prospective

Nglish: Translation of prospective for Spanish Speakers

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