prospectiveadj/pɹəˈspɛktɪv/

• 1

  Likely or expected to happen or become.

  • Prospective students are those who have already applied to the university, but have yet to be admitted.
• 2

  Anticipated in the near or far future.

  • A short distance above I-ch’ang is the prospective site of a hydroelectric dam that has vast promise for the industrialization of central China.
• 3

  Of or relating to a prospect; furnishing a prospect.

  • And in times long and dark Proſpective Glaſs / Fore-ſaw what future dayes ſhould bring to paſs,
• 4

  Looking forward in time; acting with foresight.

  • 1668-1690, Josiah Child, A new discourse of trade The French king, and the king of Sweden are […] circumspect, industrious, and prospective, too, in this affair.
• 5

  medicinesciencesBeing a study that starts with the present situation and follows participants into the future

• 6

  grammarhuman-scienceslinguisticsIndicating grammatically an activity about to begin.

  • What some other languages convey with prospective aspect, English conveys with expressions like going to drive the car home.

prospectivenoun/pɹəˈspɛktɪv/

• 1

  obsoleteThe scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect.

  • the whole Scene of affairs was changed from Spain to France there now lay the prospective
• 2

  obsoleteA perspective glass.

  • [T]hey [two pavillions] were trimmed on the inside with rich armour and military furniture, hanged up as upon the walls; and behind the tents there were represented, in prospective, the tops of divers other tents, as if it had been a camp.
• 3

  informalA prospective (potential) member, student, employee, date, partner, etc.

  • Would you like to show the prospective around?
  • I'm meeting the prospectives at 3.