What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Prospective vs Following - What's the difference?

prospective | following | Related terms |

Prospective is a related term of following.


As adjectives the difference between prospective and following

is that prospective is likely or expected to happen or become while following is coming next, either in sequence or in time.

As nouns the difference between prospective and following

is that prospective is (obsolete) the scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect while following is a group of followers, attendants or admirers; an entourage.

As a preposition following is

after, subsequent to.

prospective

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Likely or expected to happen or become.
    • Prospective students are those who have already applied to the university, but have yet to be admitted.
  • Anticipated in the near or far future.
  • Of or relating to a prospect; furnishing a prospect.
  • * Milton
    • Time's long and dark prospective glass.
  • Looking forward in time; acting with foresight.
  • * Sir J. Child
    • The French king and king of Sweden are circumspect, industrious, and prospective , too, in this affair.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) The scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect.
  • (obsolete) A perspective glass.
    • (Chaucer)
    (Beaumont and Fletcher)
  • (informal, often plural) A (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.

    References

    *

    following

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Coming next, either in sequence or in time.
  • * 1835 , Sir , Sir (James Clark Ross), Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-west Passage …, Volume 1 , pp.284-5
    • Towards the following morning, the thermometer fell to 5°; and at daylight, there was not an atom of water to be seen in any direction.
  • About to be specified.
  • (of a wind) Blowing in the direction of travel.

    • Usage notes

    (Senses 1, 2) When it modifies a noun phrase, it is generally preceded by the definite article the'', and the combination functions as a determiner rather than a simple adjective. You can put it before a cardinal like ''the following two remarks'' instead of ''the two following remarks .

    Antonyms

    * abovementioned * aforementioned * aforesaid

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • After, subsequent to.
    • Following the meeting, we all had a chat.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A group of followers, attendants or admirers; an entourage.
    • He had a loyal following .
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=September 29 , author=Jon Smith , title=Tottenham 3 - 1 Shamrock Rovers , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=And White Hart Lane was stunned when Rovers scored just five minutes after the restart in front of their away following .}}
  • Something to be mentioned immediately later. Used with the definite article the .
    • The following is a recommendation letter from the president.
  • Vocation; business; profession.

    • Statistics

    *