project

1 of 2

noun

proj·​ect ˈprä-ˌjekt How to pronounce project (audio)
-jikt,
 also  ˈprō-
1
: a specific plan or design : scheme
2
obsolete : idea
3
: a planned undertaking: such as
a
: a definitely formulated piece of research
b
: a large usually government-supported undertaking
c
: a task or problem engaged in usually by a group of students to supplement and apply classroom studies
4
: a usually public housing development consisting of houses or apartments built and arranged according to a single plan

project

2 of 2

verb

pro·​ject prə-ˈjekt How to pronounce project (audio)
projected; projecting; projects

transitive verb

1
a
: to devise in the mind : design
b
: to plan, figure, or estimate for the future
2
: to throw or cast forward : thrust
3
: to put or set forth : present for consideration
4
: to cause to jut out
5
: to cause (light or shadow) to fall into space or (an image) to fall on a surface
6
: to reproduce (something, such as a point, line, or area) on a surface by motion in a prescribed direction
7
: to display outwardly especially to an audience
8
: to attribute (one's own ideas, feelings, or characteristics) to other people or to objects
a nation is an entity on which one can project many of the worst of one's instinctsThe Times Literary Supplement (London)

intransitive verb

1
: to jut out : protrude
2
a
: to come across vividly : give an impression
b
: to make oneself heard clearly
projectable adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for project

plan, design, plot, scheme, project mean a method devised for making or doing something or achieving an end.

plan always implies mental formulation and sometimes graphic representation.

plans for a house

design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony.

a design for a new dress

plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions.

the plot of the play

scheme stresses calculation of the end in view and may apply to a plan motivated by craftiness and self-interest.

a scheme to defraud the government

project often stresses imaginative scope and vision.

a project to develop the waterfront

Examples of project in a Sentence

Noun an ambitious project to develop the city's waterfront Verb He projected next year's costs as being slightly higher than this year's. It's difficult to project funding needs so far into the future. an athlete who projects a positive image to young people We need an actor who projects a tough-guy image.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
With your children grown or career goals achieved, this could be the time to focus on a project that excites you and gives you purpose. Melissa Houston, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024 Blomkamp also shot a Halo short film, Landfall, in 2007, but a project for a feature film for the franchise fell through. Issy Van Der Velde, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2024
Verb
As a result, the International Cocoa Organization projected in August that global cocoa production this season would fall by 14.2%. Erika Tulfo, CNN, 20 Oct. 2024 These have a five-year limited warranty and are projected to support up to 2.5M hours MTBF, mean time between failures. Thomas Coughlin, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for project 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'project.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English projecte, from Medieval Latin projectum, from Latin, neuter of projectus, past participle of proicere to throw forward, from pro- + jacere to throw — more at jet

Verb

Anglo-French projecter, from Latin projectus, past participle

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of project was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near project

Cite this Entry

“Project.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/project. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

project

1 of 2 noun
proj·​ect ˈpräj-ˌekt How to pronounce project (audio)
-ikt
1
: a plan or scheme to do something
2
: a task or problem in school
my science project
3
: a group of houses or apartment buildings built according to a single plan
especially : one built with government help to provide low-cost housing

project

2 of 2 verb
pro·​ject prə-ˈjekt How to pronounce project (audio)
1
a
: to work out in the mind
b
: to plan, figure, or estimate for the future
project next year's costs
2
: to throw forward
3
4
: to cause to fall upon a surface
project motion pictures on a screen

Medical Definition

project

transitive verb
pro·​ject prə-ˈjekt How to pronounce project (audio)
: to attribute or assign (something in one's own mind or a personal characteristic) to a person, group, or object
the patient projected hostility onto the therapist

intransitive verb

: to connect by sending nerve fibers or processes
cells of the lateral geniculate body project to the back part of the cerebral cortex

More from Merriam-Webster on project

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