• IPA: /pɹəˈspɛktɪv/

prospective (not comparable)

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.
3. Of or relating to a prospect; furnishing a prospect.
   • 1673, John Milton, Poems, &c. upon Several Occaſions., London: Printed for Tho. Dring […] , OCLC 1050806759 ↗, page 67 ↗:

     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.

   • The French king and king of Sweden are circumspect, industrious, and prospective, too, in this affair.

5. (medicine, of research) A study that starts with the present situation and follows participants into the future
6. (grammar) Indicating 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''.

• French: prospectif
• German: voraussichtlich, künftig, voraussichtlich, zukünftig
• Portuguese: prospectivo
• Russian: перспекти́вный

• French: prospectif
• Italian: prospettivo
• Portuguese: prospectivo, prospetivo
• Spanish: prospectivo

prospective (plural prospectives)

1. (obsolete) The scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect.
2. (obsolete) A perspective glass.
3. (informal, often plural) A prospective (potential) member, student, employee, date, partner, etc.

   Would you like to show the prospective around?

   I'm meeting the prospectives at 3.

   • 2006, Verve: The Spirit of Today's Woman, volume 14, issues 4-6, page 114:

     At the moment, meeting interesting, 'could be, maybe not' prospectives around the globe keeps her entertained.