project
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a piece of work that is planned and takes a period of time to finish.
n.a planned endeavour, typically involving multiple stages and a specific objective.
Simple“The students are working on a science project about renewable energy.”
In context“The construction project was delayed by several months due to unforeseen structural issues and a shortage of skilled labour.”
UsageOften used with 'on' to indicate the subject matter.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a group of houses or apartments built by the government for people with low incomes.
n.a government-subsidised housing development, typically in an urban area.
Simple“He grew up in the projects in Chicago before becoming a famous musician.”
In context“The city council proposed a complete renovation of the housing projects to improve living standards for the residents.”
UsageUsually used in the plural form 'the projects'.
Synonymssocial housingpublic housing - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to stick out from a surface or an edge.
v.to extend or protrude beyond a surface or edge. Intransitive in this sense.
Simple“Be careful of the sharp nails that project from the old wooden fence.”
In context“The balcony projects over the street, offering a panoramic view of the city's historic district.”
UsageOften followed by 'from' or 'over'.
- 04 B1 Intermediate
v.to show a picture or film on a screen or wall using light.
v.to cast an image, shadow, or light onto a surface.
Simple“The teacher used a laptop to project the slides onto the whiteboard.”
In context“The artist used a powerful laser to project intricate geometric patterns onto the side of the cathedral.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to guess or calculate what will happen in the future based on current information.
v.to estimate or forecast a future situation based on a study of present trends.
Simple“Experts project that the population will grow by ten percent next year.”
In context“The finance department projects a significant increase in revenue following the launch of the new product line.”
UsageOften followed by a 'that' clause or a noun phrase.
- 06 C1 Advanced
v.to behave in a way that gives other people a certain impression of you.
v.to present oneself or one's qualities to others in a specific manner.
Simple“It is important to project confidence during a job interview.”
In context“The politician worked hard to project an image of stability and competence during the economic crisis.”
- 07 C1 Advanced
v.to imagine that other people have the same feelings or problems that you have.
v.to attribute one's own unconscious thoughts, feelings, or traits to another person.
Simple“He is projecting his own insecurities onto his colleagues when he calls them lazy.”
In context“In therapy, the patient began to realise she was projecting her fear of failure onto her supportive partner.”
UsageTypically takes the preposition 'onto'.
- 08 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to speak or sing loudly and clearly so that people far away can hear you.
v.to use the voice in a way that makes it audible at a distance, especially in a theatre.
Simple“You need to project your voice so the people in the back row can hear.”
In context“The lead actor was praised for his ability to project his voice without losing the emotional nuance of the dialogue.”
Usage project began · project called · project manager
From Latin prōiectus, perfect passive participle of prōiciō (“throw forth, extend; expel”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.