Which word is commonly used as a verb meaning to estimate or forecast future values, such as cost or size, in planning?

• A. Estimate
• B. Forecast
• C. Project
• D. Anticipate

Answer: (C)

In planning, you need a verb that signals looking ahead and putting numbers on future outcomes. The best choice is to project. It’s the standard way to talk about estimating future values like costs or demand in a planning context. Saying “we project costs will rise” conveys a forward-looking estimate that’s anchored in data and assumptions used for budgeting and resource planning.

Other options are close but don’t fit as naturally in this context. To estimate is a more general act of calculating an approximate value, not necessarily tied to a formal planning document. To forecast focuses on predicting what will happen, but “forecast” is often used for trends or weather-like predictions rather than the planning-specific task of creating a projection for decision-making. Anticipate means to expect something, usually without specifying a numeric forecast.