# projecting

/pɹəˈdʒɛktɪŋ/ (US) · /pɹədʒˈɛktɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/projecting
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. predicting or estimating

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

predicting what will happen in the future based on information you have now.

For teachers: estimating or forecasting a future situation based on a study of present trends.

- The company is projecting a large increase in sales for the next year.
- Economists are projecting a period of sustained growth, provided that interest rates remain stable throughout the fiscal quarter.

Usage: Often used in the continuous form with a noun phrase object.

### 2. psychology

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

wrongly imagining that other people have the same difficult feelings or bad qualities that you have.

For teachers: unconsciously attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or traits to another person.

- Stop shouting at me; you are just projecting your own anger onto me.
- In therapy, he realised he was projecting his insecurities about his career onto his partner's achievements.

Usage: Commonly takes the preposition 'onto'.

### 3. sticking out

adjective · CEFR B2

sticking out from a surface.

For teachers: extending outward beyond a surface or edge.

- Be careful not to hit your head on the projecting shelf.
- The architect designed the building with projecting balconies to provide residents with a better view of the park.

### 4. a part that sticks out

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a part of something that sticks out further than the rest.

For teachers: a physical protrusion or an element that extends beyond the main body of a structure.

- The mountain climbers used a small projecting rock to pull themselves up.
- The facade was decorated with various stone projectings that created a complex pattern of shadows in the afternoon sun.

## Examples

- He is projecting his own anger onto his coworkers.
- When she accused her partner of being dishonest, she was actually projecting her own guilt about the secret.
- In clinical settings, a patient might be projecting their insecurities onto the therapist, viewing the professional's neutral stance as a form of personal rejection or judgment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.