design

verb de·sign \ di-ˈzīn \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of design

transitive verb

1 : to create, fashion, execute, or construct according to plan : devise, contrive

design a system for tracking inventory

2 a : to conceive and plan out in the mind

he designed the perfect crime

b : to have as a purpose : intend

she designed to excel in her studies

c : to devise for a specific function or end

a book designed primarily as a college textbook

a suitcase designed to hold a laptop computer

3 archaic : to indicate with a distinctive mark, sign, or name

4 a : to make a drawing, pattern, or sketch of

… a curious woman whose dresses always looked as if they had been designed in a rage …
—Oscar Wilde

b : to draw the plans for

design a building

designing a new bike

intransitive verb

1 : to conceive or execute a plan

2 : to draw, lay out, or prepare a design

was trained to design for homes and offices

—

designedly

play \-ˈzī-nəd-lē\ adverb

See design defined for English-language learners

See design defined for kids

Examples of design in a Sentence

A team of engineers designed the new engine.
Who designed the book's cover?
He designed the chair to adjust automatically.
They thought they could design the perfect crime.
design a strategy for battle

Recent Examples of design from the Web

In an ideal world, Europe and America would seek open-skies deals with China but design them to nurture competition rather than mute it.

— The Economist, "Chinese aviation takes off," 7 Apr. 2018
Then there’s a 1951 Blakely Oil Special, with an Offenhauser engine first designed in 1927.

— greg moore, azcentral, "Moore: As IndyCar keeps moving toward the future, a reminder of the past," 6 Apr. 2018
The Houston Astros’ World Series rings are incredible, with some amazing details designed in them.

— charles curtis, For The Win, "Kate Upton proves the Astros World Series rings are humongous," 5 Apr. 2018
That seemed a rare backward step, designed in part to block in Liverpool’s marauding left back Andrew Robertson and in part to ensure even greater possession than City usually enjoys.

— jonathan wilson, SI.com, "Liverpool Outpaces, Outwits Man City in Making Champions League Statement," 4 Apr. 2018
The fear is that with the WTO's two biggest member states now implicated in a similar dispute, a measure designed as a last-resort exception could now become the norm.

— rick noack, chicagotribune.com, "How trade wars end — and why Trump's will be different," 4 Apr. 2018
If the new baby is christened, the christening gown will be a replica of one that was first designed for Queen Victoria in 1841.

— maggie maloney, Town & Country, "Everything We Know About the New Royal Baby," 3 Apr. 2018
Their high-proof whiskies are designed with dilution and added water in mind, and the molecular interaction helps open up a bonus set of aromas.

— dan q. dao, GQ, "Japanese Whisky: A Guide for the Thirsty and Curious," 2 Apr. 2018
Howard Hughes, Charlie Chaplin and Dolores del Rio all, at one point or another, had pads designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style by architects such as Wallace Neff, who helped popularize the style.

— carolina a. miranda, latimes.com, "Why so many Mexicans revile the Colonial Californiano architectural hybrid that spread from SoCal," 30 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'design.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of design

Middle English, to outline, indicate, mean, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French designer to designate, from Medieval Latin designare, from Latin, to mark out, from de- + signare to mark — more at sign

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

See Words from the same year

design Synonyms

Synonyms

arrange, blueprint, budget, calculate, chart, choreograph, frame, lay out, map (out), organize, plan, prepare, project, scheme (out), shape, strategize (about);

concert, get up;

draft, outline, sketch;

aim, figure, have on, intend, mean;

contemplate, meditate, premeditate;

design

noun

Definition of design

1 a : a particular purpose or intention held in view by an individual or group

He has ambitious designs for his son.

b : deliberate purposive planning

more by accident than design

2 : a mental project or scheme in which means to an end are laid down

was never part of my design

3 a : a deliberate undercover project or scheme : plot

a declaration of a design upon his life
—John Locke

b designs plural : aggressive or evil intent —used with on or against

he has designs on the money

4 : a preliminary sketch or outline showing the main features of something to be executed

the design for the new stadium

5 a : an underlying scheme that governs functioning, developing, or unfolding : pattern, motif

the general design of the epic

b : a plan or protocol for carrying out or accomplishing something (such as a scientific experiment); also : the process of preparing this

6 : the arrangement of elements or details in a product or work of art

… his sense of structure, both in the general design of Paradise Lost and Samson, and in his syntax …
—T. S. Eliot

7 : a decorative pattern

a floral design

8 : the creative art of executing aesthetic or functional designs

studied design in college

See design defined for English-language learners

Examples of design in a Sentence

There are problems with the design of the airplane's landing gear.
I like the design of the textbook.
I love the sculpture's design.
The machine had a flawed design.
the design and development of new products
Correcting mistakes is part of the design process.
a number of design concepts

Recent Examples of design from the Web

The likes of Japan, Colombia and even Australia have also impressed most neutrals with their brand new designs ahead of the competition in Russia.

— SI.com, "PHOTO: China's Leaked Nike Shirt Set to Rival Nigeria's As Hipster Fan Favourite," 7 Apr. 2018
Its design can be simple because its job is simple: find an asteroid and fly into it at full speed.

— NBC News, "Space scientists have big plans to avert an asteroid apocalypse," 6 Apr. 2018
The occasion was the launch of their design of the Nigerian soccer team’s 2018 World Cup jersey, which was subtly inspired by the kit for the 1994 team, the first Nigerian team to qualify.

— alex frank, Vogue, "In One Wild Weekend, Nike, Skepta, and Naomi Campbell Converged to Celebrate Lagos, the Coolest City on Earth," 6 Apr. 2018
The audio gear became popular internationally as much for its futuristic design as for its sound.

— ian austen, BostonGlobe.com, "Peter Munk; built world’s biggest gold mining company," 5 Apr. 2018
Cloepfil by the Numbers 38,000 square feet The size of the expansion proposed in his firm’s pro bono design for the Brooklyn Music School.

— jennifer conrad, WSJ, "A Day in the Life of Eleven Madison Park Designer Brad Cloepfil," 4 Apr. 2018
Any artist is welcome to submit a concept for their box design and examples of their previous artwork experience to ensure professional quality work.

— julie gallant, Ramona Sentinel, "Board approves utility box designs, critiques alley potholes," 4 Apr. 2018
The first true icebreakers appeared at the end of the 19th century and their distinctive bow design remains to this day.

— david hambling, Popular Mechanics, "Does the U.S. Stand a Chance Against Russia's Icebreakers?," 4 Apr. 2018
Her designs are offered in farmhouse styles — of course! — as well as boho, French-inspired, traditional, primitive, modern, architectural and industrial.

— erin jensen, USA TODAY, "Following the 'Fixer Upper' finale, here's how you can get your Chip, Joanna Gaines fix," 4 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of design

see ¹design

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1565

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

design Synonyms

Synonyms

arrangement, blueprint, game, game plan, ground plan, master plan, plan, program, project, scheme, strategy, system;

Related Words

collusion, conspiracy, plot;

contrivance, device, gambit, maneuver, ruse, stratagem, subterfuge, trick;

counterplan, counterstrategy;

means, tactic, technique, way;

procedure, protocol;

conception, idea, projet, proposal, specific(s), specification(s);

aim, intent, intention, purpose;

diagram, formula, layout, map, pattern, platform, policy, recipe, setup;

Synonym Discussion of design

intention, intent, purpose, design, aim, end, object, objective, goal mean what one intends to accomplish or attain. intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about.

- announced his intention to marry

intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness.

- the clear intent of the statute

purpose suggests a more settled determination.

- being successful was her purpose in life

design implies a more carefully calculated plan.

- the order of events came by accident, not design

aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing.

- her aim was to raise film to an art form

end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such.

- willing to use any means to achieve his end

object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need.

- his constant object was the achievement of pleasure

objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable.

- their objective is to seize the oil fields

goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship.

- worked years to reach her goals

plan, design, plot, scheme, project mean a method devised for making or doing something or achieving an end. plan always implies mental formulation and sometimes graphic representation.

- plans for a house

design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony.

- a design for a new dress

plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions.

- the plot of the play

scheme stresses calculation of the end in view and may apply to a plan motivated by craftiness and self-interest.

- a scheme to defraud the government

project often stresses imaginative scope and vision.

- a project to develop the waterfront

DESIGN Defined for English Language Learners

design

verb

Definition of design for English Language Learners

: to plan and make decisions about (something that is being built or created) : to create the plans, drawings, etc., that show how (something) will be made
: to plan and make (something) for a specific use or purpose
: to think of (something, such as a plan) : to plan (something) in your mind

design

noun

Definition of design for English Language Learners

: the way something has been made : the way the parts of something (such as a building, machine, book, etc.) are formed and arranged for a particular use, effect, etc.
: the process of planning how something will look, happen, be made, etc. : the process of designing something
: a drawing of something that is being planned or created

DESIGN Defined for Kids

design

verb de·sign \ di-ˈzīn \

Definition of design for Students

designed; designing

1 : to think up and plan out in the mind

Our engineers have designed a new engine.

2 : to set apart for or have as a special purpose : intend

The Web site is designed for fun.

3 : to make a pattern or sketch of

She designs clothes.

design

noun

Definition of design for Students

1 : an arrangement of parts in a structure or a work of art

The design of the house suits a large family.

2 : the art or process of planning and creating something

His job is Web page design.

3 : a sketch, model, or plan of something made or to be made

Architects studied the design for the building.

4 : a decorative pattern

5 : ¹plan 1, scheme

6 : a planned intention

As if by design, they both stopped at the same spot …
—Jerry Spinelli, Maniac Magee

7 : a secret purpose : plot

I know you have designs on my money.

Medical Dictionary

design

noun de·sign \ di-ˈzīn \

medical Definition of design

: a plan or protocol for carrying out or accomplishing something (especially a scientific experiment); also : the process of preparing this

—

design

transitive verb

Learn More about design

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design

Definition of design

designedly

Examples of design in a Sentence

Recent Examples of design from the Web

Origin and Etymology of design

design Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

design

Definition of design

Examples of design in a Sentence

Recent Examples of design from the Web

Origin and Etymology of design

design Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of design

Phrases Related to DESIGN

Related Phrases

DESIGN Defined for English Language Learners

design

Definition of design for English Language Learners

design

Definition of design for English Language Learners

DESIGN Defined for Kids

design

Definition of design for Students

design

Definition of design for Students

Medical Dictionary

design

medical Definition of design

design

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