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Prospective vs Forthcoming - What's the difference?

prospective | forthcoming |

As adjectives the difference between prospective and forthcoming

is that prospective is likely or expected to happen or become while forthcoming is (not comparable) approaching or about to take place.

As nouns the difference between prospective and forthcoming

is that prospective is (obsolete) the scene before or around, in time or in space; view; prospect while forthcoming is something that is yet to come.

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

    *

    forthcoming

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (not comparable) Approaching or about to take place.
    • I shall vote in the forthcoming election.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=October 1 , author=David Ornstein , title=Blackburn 0 - 4 Man City , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=The visitors began to hold a much higher line, passing and moving with greater urgency, and their reward was forthcoming .}}
  • Available when needed.
    • The money was not forthcoming .
  • Considerate and affable; willing to cooperate.
    • I am really a forthcoming person.

    Derived terms

    * forthcomingness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something that is yet to come.
  • * 1831 , Archibald Mackerrell, An Apology for the Gift of Tongues and Interpretation
    • The reader, has had presented to him things not belonging to time or mortality, but awful realities issuing out from eternity, the audible forthcomings of a present living God.

    Anagrams

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