plan

1 of 3

noun

ˈplan 

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

ˈplan-ləs 

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

Synonyms

Noun

• arrangement
• blueprint
• design
• game
• game plan
• ground plan
• master plan
• program
• project
• road map
• scheme
• strategy
• system

Verb

• arrange
• blueprint
• budget
• calculate
• chart
• choreograph
• design
• frame
• lay out
• map (out)
• organize
• prepare
• project
• scheme (out)
• shape
• strategize (about)

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

The industry has resisted prior efforts in 2011 and 2016, and an array of U.S. agencies also must consent before the plan could take effect. —Katanga Johnson, Fortune, 4 May 2024

First, John Wilkes Booth assassinated Lincoln before the Blackburn plan had fully unfolded. —TIME, 4 May 2024

The plans are funded primarily through employer contributions, which are tied to hours worked. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 May 2024

Buc-ee’s, based in Texas, recently submitted early site plans for review by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, according to online records. —Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 4 May 2024

Here are suggestions for staying safe during a thunderstorm: • To minimize risk of being struck by lightning, when going outside, have a plan to get to a safer place. —Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 May 2024

Making plans to celebrate Cinco de Mayo this weekend? —Angela Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 3 May 2024

The public also is invited to submit comments on the draft spending plan to the county website or email suggestions or other feedback to county officials. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 May 2024

As a result of its investment, an Alexa Fund executive earned a board observer seat at the company and got access to Nucleus’s financials, strategic plans, and other proprietary information. —Dana Mattioli, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024

Verb

But though engineers planning spacecraft missions have used a myriad of mathematical tools, in recent decades they’ve been daunted by the increasing abstraction of symplectic geometry. —Leila Sloman, WIRED, 5 May 2024

Cogan, a sixth-grade science and world cultures teacher at South Euless Elementary, plans to resign from his teaching job to focus on the city full time. —Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 May 2024

Johnson’s administration plans to add the first two clinics by the end of the year and expects more clinics after this year, Grigsby said. —Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2024

The Fed now plans to hold rates steady longer to ensure inflation moves toward the central bank's 2% target. —Detroit Free Press, 4 May 2024

Advertisement But by far the most significant increase is planned by the Bureau of Sanitation, which is seeking the council’s support for seven sewer fee hikes by mid-2028. —Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2024

The company plans for its shares to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ZK. Subscribe to the Eye on AI newsletter to stay abreast of how AI is shaping the future of business. —Michael Hytha, Fortune, 4 May 2024

Construction of the first data center building is underway and a second is planned on that site. —Karl Ebert, Journal Sentinel, 4 May 2024

Roadside plans to open the film nationwide for the fall awards season. —Brent Lang, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024

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

Phrases Containing plan

• according to plan
• American plan
• change of plan
• commission plan
• contingency plan
• European plan
• flight plan
• floor plan
• game plan
• ground plan
• installment plan
• Keogh plan
• master plan
• open-plan
• pension plan
• plan B
• plan of action
• plan of attack
• plan position indicator
• pre-plan
• retirement plan
• seating arrangement/plan
• seating plan

Kids Definition

plan

1 of 2 noun

ˈplan 

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

-ləs 

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