plot

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a small area of planted ground
a vegetable plot
b
: a small piece of land in a cemetery
c
: a measured piece of land : lot
2
3
: the plan or main story (as of a movie or literary work)
4
[perhaps back-formation from complot] : a secret plan for accomplishing a usually evil or unlawful end : intrigue
5
: a graphic representation (such as a chart)
plotless adjective
plotlessness noun

plot

2 of 2

verb

plotted; plotting

transitive verb

1
a
: to make a plot, map, or plan of
b
: to mark or note on or as if on a map or chart
2
: to lay out in plots (see plot entry 1 sense 1)
3
a
: to locate (a point) by means of coordinates
b
: to locate (a curve) by plotted points
c
: to represent (an equation) by means of a curve so constructed
4
: to plan or contrive especially secretly
5
: to invent or devise the plot of (something, such as a movie or a literary work)

intransitive verb

1
: to form a plot : scheme
2
: to be located by means of coordinates
the data plot at a single point
Choose the Right Synonym for plot

plot, intrigue, machination, conspiracy, cabal mean a plan secretly devised to accomplish an evil or treacherous end.

plot implies careful foresight in planning a complex scheme.

an assassination plot

intrigue suggests secret underhanded maneuvering in an atmosphere of duplicity.

backstairs intrigue

machination implies a contriving of annoyances, injuries, or evils by indirect means.

the machinations of a party boss

conspiracy implies a secret agreement among several people usually involving treason or great treachery.

a conspiracy to fix prices

cabal typically applies to political intrigue involving persons of some eminence.

a cabal among powerful senators

synonyms see in addition plan

Examples of plot in a Sentence

Noun Her books are page-turners, and yet there is more going on in them than just the mechanics of a clever plot Robin McKinley, New York Times Book Review, 17 May 1987
… as he stood before the great dripping department store which now occupied the big plot of ground where once had stood both the Amberson Hotel and the Amberson Opera House. Booth Tarkington, The Magnificent Ambersons, 1918
When I returned with the pistol the table had been cleared, and Holmes was engaged in his favourite occupation of scraping upon his violin. "The plot thickens," he said, as I entered … Arthur Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet, 1887
The plots are selling for $15,000 per acre. They just bought a 12-acre plot of land. The book's plot revolves around a woman who is searching for her missing sister. The movie has a weak plot. Police uncovered a plot to assassinate the prime minister. The prime minister was the target of an assassination plot. Verb While men plotted wars or devised philosophies, women were confined within their homes … Barbara Ehrenreich, Ms., Winter 2007
Would-be nation builders plotted Italy's unification from the south and the north. David Van Biema, Time, 4 Sept. 2000
They plotted to steal the painting. She spent her years in prison plotting her revenge. We've been plotting growth strategies for the company. She carefully plotted her career path. They've plotted the locations where the trees will be planted. Have you plotted the route for your trip yet? Students plotted soil temperatures on a graph throughout the school year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Sometimes, in fact, the pictures undermine the plot. Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 But each of these spoofs and goofs had a purpose, rooted in character and plot. Chancellor Agard, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024 Much like the film’s plot, details of Wen’s role are currently under wraps. Katcy Stephan, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024 The plot, however, is really not that important to me. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2024 Over the years, the idea remained with her, but as her life changed alongside partner Jeff Bezos, so did the plot. Gillian Telling, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 The plot now thickens, with sea ice, of all things, emerging as a major player. Matt Simon, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2024 More endearing than Scarlett O’Hara, less thorny than Erin Brockovich, Rose is a Juliet-like figure in love with love who subverts the plot, surviving tragedy instead of succumbing to it. Susan Dominus, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Prosecutors say that Gonzalez and his co-defendants were recorded on government wiretaps discussing various criminal activity, including the robbery plot. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2024
Verb
While in custody O’Connor has been beaten by other inmates, hospitalized with an infection and accused of plotting a jailhouse drug-dealing caper. John Woolfolk, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024 The league is shaking up NFL Network’s morning football talk show, Good Morning Football, moving production from New York to Los Angeles, and plotting a two-hour extension of the series, which will be sold in syndication. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 The attention to detail in this episode is truly astonishing, from the way it's shot to the dialogue and plotting. Chancellor Agard, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2024 Trump is charged in Florida with dozens of counts of mishandling classified information after his presidency ended and plotting with two aides to obstruct government efforts to recover the material from Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach home and private club. Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 The case echoes a 2012 prosecution the department brought accusing Iran of plotting to kill the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. in Washington, D.C. Iran also has had a hand in two other recent assassination plots, according to court papers. Ryan Lucas, NPR, 25 Feb. 2024 According to court records, the women plotted to embezzle funds from WFYI Public Media into their personal checking accounts. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Feb. 2024 Trump is charged in Florida with dozens of counts of willfully retaining national defense information and plotting with two aides to keep hundreds of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach home and private club, after his presidency ended. Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2024 Even though two months remain in the 2023-24 season, teams are already looking ahead and plotting for next season – searching for ways to improve. Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plot.' 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 and Verb

Middle English, from Old English

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1588, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of plot was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near plot

Cite this Entry

“Plot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plot. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

plot

1 of 2 noun
1
: a small area of ground : lot
a cemetery plot
2
: a plan of a floor of a building
3
: the main story (as of a literary work or movie)
4
: an evil or unlawful scheme
5

plot

2 of 2 verb
plotted; plotting
1
a
: to make a plot, map, or plan of
b
: to mark, note, or locate on a map or chart
plot a ship's position
2
: to plan especially secretly : scheme
3
a
: to locate and mark (a point) by means of coordinates
b
: to make (a curve) by marking out a number of plotted points
plotter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on plot

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