plan

1 of 3

noun

1
: a drawing or diagram drawn on a plane: such as
a
: a top or horizontal view of an object
b
: a large-scale map of a small area
2
a
: a method for achieving an end
b
: an often customary method of doing something : procedure
c
: a detailed formulation of a program of action
d
: goal, aim
3
: an orderly arrangement of parts of an overall design or objective
4
: a detailed program (as for payment or the provision of some service)
pension plan
planless adjective
planlessly adverb
planlessness noun

plan

2 of 3

verb

planned; planning

transitive verb

1
: to arrange the parts of : design
plan a new layout
2
: to devise or project the realization or achievement of
planned their escape
3
: to have in mind : intend
plans to leave soon

intransitive verb

1
: to make plans
plan ahead
2
: to have a specified intention
used with on
plans on going

plan-

3 of 3

combining form

variants or plano-
1
: flat
planography
2
: flat and
plano-concave
Choose the Right Synonym for plan

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

Examples of plan in a Sentence

Noun the army's plan of attack We need to agree on a plan of action. Our plan was to have the guests park on the street, not the lawn. When we met them at the restaurant, they said there had been a change of plan. He changed his long-distance plan. Verb We are busy planning the party. The prisoners spent months planning their escape. a teacher planning her next lesson The students are planning a protest. We have something very special planned for your birthday. Their wedding is planned for June. a planned series of books about cars Things don't always go as planned. Always remember to plan ahead.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Apple Music has offered lossless audio and spatial audio as part of any individual plan for no extra cost since 2021. Elias Leight, Billboard, 5 Mar. 2024 Under that plan, the executive director would become the CEO. The Indianapolis Star, 5 Mar. 2024 The Coconino County Board of Supervisors last month passed a resolution opposing uranium mining and hauling, joining other opponents of the plan to move the ore. Trilce Estrada Olvera, The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2024 After a reunion tour in 2012, Refused returned two years later with bigger plans, going on to release their 2015 comeback record Freedom and 2019’s War Music. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 5 Mar. 2024 The show will premiere Friday, March 29 for Paramount+ subscribers with the Paramount+ with Showtime plan in the U.S. before its on-air debut on Paramount+ with Showtime on Sunday, March 31. Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2024 Each is pondering succession plans and dealing with changing seasons in their lives. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Like most of the five women who have died at South Florida office surgery clinics in the past year, Baumeister was visiting from out of state and patronizing a center that advertises low-cost procedures with financing plans, Seduction by Jardon’s Medical Center in Doral. Daniel Chang, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024 Miller said there was one prior complaint about duck boats at the location, a violation of site plan usage. Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 5 Mar. 2024
Verb
Get a head start on planning your Easter dinner Location: Charlotte area Cost: Varies Easter is coming up fast, so why not plan ahead and check out what local Charlotte restaurants and meal services are offering. Jody MacE, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2024 Serve as research and development center for planning new Marrow offerings. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 Mattel is also planning plenty more celebratory rollouts in honor of Barbie's big day, including new Fashionista dolls that also pay tribute to Barbies of years past, new Career dolls that celebrate Barbie's most popular career fields from her lifetime and more. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024 Now Giamatti is planning an extended Chinwag universe. Thr Staff, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 Lawmakers are also planning on assigning some money to address the state’s worsening prison crisis, although DeSantis didn’t ask for nearly as much. Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 But here’s what makes this project unique and uniquely risky: All four films are planned for theatrical release in 2027. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 Jason Bowles, a lead lawyer for Gutierrez-Reed, told EW that the defense plans to appeal. EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024 People close to McConnell privately said after Trump’s presidency that the powerful Kentucky Republican did not plan to speak Trump’s name again. Josh Dawsey, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, plane, foundation, ground plan; partly from Latin planum level ground, from neuter of planus level; partly from French planter to plant, fix in place, from Late Latin plantare — more at floor, plant

Combining form

Latin planus

First Known Use

Noun

1735, in the meaning defined at sense 2c

Verb

1718, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of plan was in 1718

Dictionary Entries Near plan

Cite this Entry

“Plan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plan. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

plan

1 of 2 noun
1
: a drawing or diagram showing the parts or outline of something
2
: a method or scheme of acting, doing, or arranging
a civil defense plan
vacation plans
3
: goal sense 2, aim
our plan was to stop them at the bridge
planless adjective

plan

2 of 2 verb
planned; planning
1
: to form a plan of or for : to arrange the parts or details of ahead of time
plan a church
plan a party
2
: to have in mind : intend
3
: to make plans
planner noun

Legal Definition

plan

noun
1
: a diagram of an area of land (as a subdivision) filed in the registry of deeds see also plot plan
2
: a detailed program
especially : one made under chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code that places future earnings under the control of a trustee, provides for the payment of creditors, and is subject to approval by the creditors

More from Merriam-Webster on plan

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