WordGarden.ioproject
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /prəˈd͡ʒɛkt/Canadaverb
US
- /ˈprɑdʒɛkt/
Meanings
Noun
a planned piece of work or undertaking meant to achieve a goal
a public housing complex, especially one associated with low-income residents
Verb
to estimate or forecast a future result, amount, or trend
to present a particular quality, image, or impression to other people
to send light, sound, or an image outward, especially onto a surface or to an audience
More meaningsFewer meanings
to stick out or extend beyond a surface or edge
Beyond the definition
A project is often a piece of work with a clear goal and a clear end. Think of building a treehouse, making a school poster, or creating a new app at work. It usually takes more than one step, so you need time, planning, and effort.
As a verb, project can mean to send, show, or push something outward. A movie projector projects an image onto a screen. A speaker projects her voice so people in the back can hear. People also use it when talking about the future: a company might project higher sales next year. In another common use, something can project from a surface, like a shelf projecting from a wall.
A project is usually a planned piece of work with a particular aim. It can be something formal, like a business project or a research project, or something personal, like a home repair project or an art project. What makes it feel like a project is that it has a purpose, a set of steps, and some point where it is finished. A science fair display, a new office system, and a community garden can all be called projects.
As a verb, project has several closely related meanings. It can mean to throw, send, or show something forward. A lamp projects light across a room, and a machine projects an image onto a wall. It can also mean to make something reach outward in a stronger way: an actor projects confidence, and a singer projects her voice to the back of the hall. In writing about business, science, or government, project often means to estimate a future amount or result, as in projecting costs, growth, or population numbers.
There is also a physical sense. If part of an object projects, it sticks out. A balcony may project over the street, or a branch may project from a trunk. This idea of reaching outward connects many of the word's uses.
So when you meet this word, the meaning usually falls into one of a few patterns: a planned piece of work, the act of sending or showing something forward, an estimate about the future, or the idea of sticking out. The exact sense becomes clear from the context.
Examples
- 1
Science class
Our class is doing a science project on clean water.
- 2
Housing development
The company has started a new housing project near the station.
- 3
Work management
She manages several projects at once, so her calendar is always full.
- 4
Home renovation
The kitchen renovation became a much bigger project than we expected.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Side work
I’m working on a small side project after work.
- Phraseside project
work you do outside your main job or studies
- 6
Forecast report
The report projects slower growth next year.
- Note
As a verb, project is usually pronounced with stress on the second syllable: pro-JECT.
- 7
Sales forecast
We project that sales will improve in the summer.
- Patternproject that + clause
estimate or expect something based on information
- 8
Public speaking
Try to project your voice so everyone in the room can hear you.
- 9
Interview
He projected confidence during the interview, even though he was nervous.
- Patternproject + quality
seem to show that quality to other people
- 10
Classroom display
The map is projected onto the classroom wall.
- 11
Psychological projection
Don’t project your fears onto other people.
- Patternproject + feeling/problem onto someone
imagine that they have your own feelings or problems
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- manage a project
- project plan
- research project
- complete a project
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- projectnounverb
Forms
- projectspluralnounverb
- projectedpast tenseverbnoun
- projecting-ing formverbnoun