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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The consumer bureau looked at the tuition payment plans of nearly 450 schools. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2023 But experts raised concerns that the plan allows schools to use a maximum ratio of 10 students to one tutor, which is significantly higher than the maximum of 3 or 4 to 1ratio that research suggests. Karina Elwood, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2023 The threat of a strike at the Dana-Farber facility came a day after the renowned cancer institute announced plans with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center to build a new inpatient hospital for adult cancer care in Boston, ending its decades-long relationship with Brigham and Women’s. Nick Stoico, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023 Now, that said: What’s the plan with Robby Ashford? Matt Cohen | McOhen@al.com, al, 16 Sep. 2023 Currently, Envoy has vehicles in over 100 apartment complexes, office buildings, and hotels across the country, with plans to expand to major cities including Austin, Portland, Denver, Boston, Chicago, and New York. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2023 The panel also removed six digital billboards from the overall plan, at the recommendation of city planning officials. David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2023 Now in Chicago, Foreman knows better than to make long-term plans. Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2023 The agency still plans to impose tolls on that bridge, but has now suspended plans to toll a second span that crosses the Tualatin River. oregonlive, 15 Sep. 2023
Verb
If possible, try to plan your visit to the museum around these times to save money. Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 17 Sep. 2023 The studio is located at 8221 East Washington St. Fall by the falls: The Chagrin Falls Merchant Association has a day of activities planned 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30 in downtown Chagrin Falls. Joan Rusek, cleveland, 17 Sep. 2023 Dave Roberts plans to keep popping bottles until the #Dodgers win the World Series. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2023 My long weekend was filled with cultural and social activities that were planned by Out in Colombia. Adam Groffman, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2023 Zoe plans to continue her journey in journalism in college next year. Zoe Toperosky, oregonlive, 16 Sep. 2023 Regardless of whether schools want to call the plans loans, the bureau considers tuition payment plans an extension of credit and colleges as lenders with the responsibility of providing clear terms of their financial products. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2023 Although there will be new opportunities in the production of high-capacity batteries, there’s no guarantee that those factories will be unionized and they’re often being planned in states more hostile to organized labor. Chris Merigan, Chicago Tribune, 16 Sep. 2023 Juneau plans to conduct a survey that could guide future growth, such as building trails for tourism companies. Becky Bohrer, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2023 See More

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 27 Sep. 2023.

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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