project

noun proj·ect \ ˈprä-ˌjekt , -jikt also ˈprō- \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: project in a Sentence

Definition of project

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

See project defined for English-language learners

See project defined for kids

Examples of project in a Sentence

an ambitious project to develop the city's waterfront

Recent Examples of project from the Web

Mastroianni ended up raising $50 million from wealthy Chinese for the project, which is partly owned by the Kushners and leases its name from the president’s company.

— Washington Post, "Immigration firm seems to thrive after Trump lawyer’s help," 11 June 2018
Planning for a fourth project, Quincy Upper School, has repeatedly stalled.

— james vaznis, BostonGlobe.com, "Building boom at Boston charter schools outpaces that at other city schools," 11 June 2018
Daim helped pull Malaysia out of two of its worst recessions by pouring money into roads, schools and other projects, and pushing banks to lower interest rates.

— anisah shukry, Bloomberg.com, "‘Mini 1MDBs’ Rife Across Malaysia, Mahathir's Top Adviser Says," 11 June 2018
The project, which broke ground 18 months ago, is now more than half complete and on target to open for the 2019-20 NBA season — leaving just one final season of play at Oracle Arena.

— matier & ross, San Francisco Chronicle, "Warriors wins sell tickets — and at the arena a sign of things to come," 10 June 2018
Most important of these is allowing software projects, whether open-source or not, easily to pull together code from different contributors.

— The Economist, "Buying GitHub takes Microsoft back to its roots," 9 June 2018
All of the proceeds from the Peace Wall will benefit the nonprofit's Native Eyes project, which provides free eye care for those in need - both in the United States and in other parts of the world.

— michael walsh, Courant Community, "Celebrate West Hartford Returns For 32nd Year," 9 June 2018
SuperBetter is designed to help users adopt new habits, strengthen relationships, complete meaningful projects, and achieve lifelong goals.

— carson kessler, Fortune, "7 Apps Designed to Help Reduce Depression and Anxiety," 8 June 2018
For information on other projects, visit www.hamilton-co.org/engineer.

— nancy daly, Cincinnati.com, "Green Township warns about energy scammers," 8 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'project.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of project

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

project Synonyms

Synonyms

arrangement, blueprint, design, game, game plan, ground plan, master plan, plan, program, scheme, strategy, system;

Related Words

collusion, conspiracy, plot;

contrivance, device, gambit, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, subterfuge, trick;

counterplan, counterstrategy;

means, tactic, technique, way;

procedure, protocol;

conception, idea, projet, proposal, specific(s), specification(s);

aim, intent, intention, purpose;

diagram, formula, layout, map, pattern, platform, policy, recipe, setup;

Synonym Discussion of 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

project

verb pro·ject \ prə-ˈjekt \

Definition of project

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 instincts
—The 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

play \prə-ˈjek-tə-bəl\ adjective

See project defined for English-language learners

Examples of project in a Sentence

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 of project from the Web

Her next job, already lined up, will be to write the screenplay for Sony's live action Barbie movie starring Anne Hathaway, and directed by Alethea Jones, projected for release in 2020.

— refinery29.com, "How Olivia Milch Went From Dude To Ocean's 8 At Just 29," 7 June 2018
The basic ScreenPad mode essentially treats ScreenPad as a screensaver of sorts, projecting a pleasing static background onto your trackpad.

— mark hachman, PCWorld, "Asus ScreenPad transforms the ZenBook Pro's touchpad into a magical video screen," 4 June 2018
The work is straightforward in concept, though projected at skewed angles in a small room.

— charles desmarais, SFChronicle.com, "Satirist Doug Hall changes his tune to soothing in ‘Song of Ourselves’," 22 May 2018
City staff projected in the 2018 budget that $2.71 million would come in this year.

— erin hegarty, Naperville Sun, "Gas sales down 1 million gallons in Naperville, cutting tax money available for roads," 19 May 2018
Start upstairs and enjoy fried chicken and collard greens while watching vintage footage of Otis Redding projected above the kitchen.

— andrea williams, Condé Nast Traveler, "5 Nashville Must-Visit Music Venues (For Folks Who Hate Country)," 18 May 2018
This relatively blank slate allows Americans to project their own beliefs and biases onto the former FBI director.

— matt ford, The New Republic, "Robert Mueller’s Most Important Accomplishment," 16 May 2018
That figure is projected to rise to 20 percent by 2050.

— laura parker, National Geographic, "Fast Facts About Plastic Pollution," 16 May 2018
HOPE Crew projects spring up all across the country, and one woman is in charge of making sure everything runs like clockwork.

— wendy l. wilson, Essence.com, "Phylicia Rashad And The Women Of Saving Places Are Preserving A Crucial Piece Of Black History," 11 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of project

Anglo-French projecter, from Latin projectus, past participle

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

project Synonyms

Synonyms

arrange, blueprint, budget, calculate, chart, choreograph, design, frame, lay out, map (out), organize, plan, prepare, scheme (out), shape, strategize (about);

concert, get up;

draft, outline, sketch;

aim, figure, have on, intend, mean;

contemplate, meditate, premeditate;

PROJECT Defined for English Language Learners

project

noun

Definition of project for English Language Learners

: a planned piece of work that has a specific purpose (such as to find information or to make something new) and that usually requires a lot of time
: a task or problem in school that requires careful work over a long period of time

project

verb

Definition of project for English Language Learners

: to plan, calculate, or estimate (something) for a time in the future
: to cause (light, a picture, a movie, etc.) to appear on a surface
: to have or show (a particular quality, image, etc., that can be seen by other people)

PROJECT Defined for Kids

project

noun proj·ect \ ˈprä-ˌjekt , -jikt \

Definition of project for Students

1 : a plan or scheme to do something

home improvement projects

2 : a task or problem in school that requires work over a period of time and is often displayed or presented

a science project

3 : a group of houses or apartment buildings built according to a single plan

project

verb pro·ject \ prə-ˈjekt \

Definition of project for Students

projected; projecting

1 : to stick out

The rock projected above the ground.

2 : to cause to fall on a surface

The machine projects motion pictures on a screen.

3 : to send or throw forward

Word Root of project

The Latin word jacere, meaning “to throw,” and its form jactus give us the root ject. Words from the Latin jacere have something to do with throwing. To reject is to throw back or away. To eject is to throw out. To inject is to throw one thing into another. To project is to throw forward onto a surface.