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

• strategy
• blueprint
• program
• scheme
• project
• design

Verb

• prepare
• design
• organize
• arrange
• devise
• plot
• budget
• calculate
• blueprint
• chart

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

Worries about environmental effects have also been at the forefront, as groups such as the Center for Biological Diversity and the Friends of the Everglades filed a lawsuit Friday to halt the detention center plans. —Makiya Seminera, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025

Muon Space plans for the constellation to be able to scan every point on Earth every 20 minutes, with more wildfire prone areas being scanned more frequently. —Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 29 June 2025

Verb

Recalibrate and communicate benefits around employee needs and value – Over the next three years according to the new survey, more than half (57%) of employers plan to reallocate or rebalance their benefit spending, adding or enhancing some benefits while reducing or removing others. —John M. Bremen, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

In especially timely news, Wintour announced last week her plans to down as American Vogue’s editor-in-chief after 37 years. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 30 June 2025

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

1635, 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

Rhymes for plan

• an
• ban
• bran
• can
• cann
• clan
• duan
• fan
• flan
• gran
• jann
• klan

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