as in potential
likely to be or become something at a later time
The school had a luncheon for prospective students.
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Recent Examples of prospective
During the day, prospective criminals could be deterred by the sound of the television.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
No intention of coming across as alarmist, but as a statement of fact reminder, NBA trades aren’t complete until all players pass physicals from their prospective new team.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Narum encourages prospective residents to apply for a federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, which further subsidizes rents for qualified applicants.
—Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
Depending on the role, these chats are either vetted—meaning Defend the 612 administrators screen prospective group members—or unvetted.
—Christina Buttons, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prospective
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
No intention of coming across as alarmist, but as a statement of fact reminder, NBA trades aren’t complete until all players pass physicals from their prospective new team.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Narum encourages prospective residents to apply for a federal Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, which further subsidizes rents for qualified applicants.
—Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2026
Depending on the role, these chats are either vetted—meaning Defend the 612 administrators screen prospective group members—or unvetted.
—Christina Buttons, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prospective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prospective
Adjective
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But the document also expresses uncertainty about whether the potential defects constitute a crime, noting that elections in Fulton County have already been the subject of multiple reviews.—
Kate Brumback,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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The vast majority of baby foods, drinks and snacks sold in the United States for children ages 6 months to 36 months are ultraprocessed and may contain additives increasingly linked to potential health harms, a new study found.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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David Cox David Cox is a freelance journalist focusing on all aspects of health, from fitness and nutrition to infectious diseases and future medicines.—
David Cox,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
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On opening day the first 100 guests will receive a $50 Toastique Rewards credit with a $10 minimum purchase, to be used on future visits.—
Richard Guzman,
Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Tuesday night development in the case comes hours after the release of doorbell camera footage of a possible suspect in the disappearance.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Feb. 2026
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Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prospective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prospective. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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