1
2
: ground plan, plat
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)
plotlessness
noun
plotted; plotting
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)
1
: to form a plot : scheme
2
: to be located by means of coordinates
the data plot at a single point
Synonyms
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.
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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.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebTommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 28 Sep. 2023
After measuring the number of insects in a small, 195-square-meter (2,099-square-foot) plot adjacent to a major roadway, scientists at the University of Melbourne planted 12 indigenous plant species.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Sep. 2023
The plot revolves around the two detectives, based in Ennis, Alaska, attempting to solve the disappearance of eight men who work at Tsalal Arctic Research Station.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2023
The plot combines elements of several of the previous installments — the parental kidnapping from the first, the electronics-controlling MacGuffin from Spy Kids 2, and most prominently, the virtual-reality video game from Spy Kids 3-D, a digital world the heroes enter toward the end of the film.
—Calum Marsh, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2023
The one-acre plot is dotted with gulmohar, or royal poinciana, rudraksha, ficus, and bakul trees.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2023
The highest hurdle likely involves the plot, which focuses on the history of the hotel haven for assassins, the mysterious organization known as the High Table and hotel proprietor Winston Scott (Ian McShane in the movies), played here by Colin Woodell.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 22 Sep. 2023
The film is certainly claustrophobic, particularly the seance scene, led by Michelle Yeoh, which kicks the plot into gear.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 22 Sep. 2023
But little stimulates him as much as creating stand-alone dwellings that are as mindful of their plots as of those who will eventually occupy them.
—Suleman Anaya Fabian Martinez, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2023
Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2023
See a map of the mounds in the park to plot your visit here.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2023
The host plotted a return without writers but ended up postponing once last week's negotiations were set.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 25 Sep. 2023
Plus Dancing With the Stars may be the next show plotting its return to have to reverse course.
—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Sep. 2023
Today, violent American extremists cannot be charged for providing material in support of patently violent domestic groups or for plotting acts which are otherwise classified as terrorist attacks when a foreign terrorist entity is involved.
—Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2023
The Justice Department is challenging efforts by ex-President Donald Trump to disqualify the Washington judge presiding over the case charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election.
—Eric Tucker The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2023
As Dipesh and Honest Lier plotted a route around a nearby mountain, Madan alerted me to a white high-rise.
—Sean Williams, Harper's Magazine, 11 Sep. 2023
The Justice Department is challenging efforts by former President Donald Trump to disqualify the Washington judge presiding over the case charging him with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
—Eric Tucker The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2023
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Noun
The film's plot revolves around Barney Ross (Stallone, 76) recruiting Lee Christmas (Statham, 55) to join him again on another mission to save the world.
—Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 28 Sep. 2023
After measuring the number of insects in a small, 195-square-meter (2,099-square-foot) plot adjacent to a major roadway, scientists at the University of Melbourne planted 12 indigenous plant species.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Sep. 2023
The plot revolves around the two detectives, based in Ennis, Alaska, attempting to solve the disappearance of eight men who work at Tsalal Arctic Research Station.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2023
The plot combines elements of several of the previous installments — the parental kidnapping from the first, the electronics-controlling MacGuffin from Spy Kids 2, and most prominently, the virtual-reality video game from Spy Kids 3-D, a digital world the heroes enter toward the end of the film.
—Calum Marsh, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2023
The one-acre plot is dotted with gulmohar, or royal poinciana, rudraksha, ficus, and bakul trees.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2023
The highest hurdle likely involves the plot, which focuses on the history of the hotel haven for assassins, the mysterious organization known as the High Table and hotel proprietor Winston Scott (Ian McShane in the movies), played here by Colin Woodell.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 22 Sep. 2023
The film is certainly claustrophobic, particularly the seance scene, led by Michelle Yeoh, which kicks the plot into gear.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 22 Sep. 2023
But little stimulates him as much as creating stand-alone dwellings that are as mindful of their plots as of those who will eventually occupy them.
—Suleman Anaya Fabian Martinez, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2023
Verb
From there, Jen managed everything related to the wedding day itself, while Joe plotted the group activities for the rest of the week.
—Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2023
See a map of the mounds in the park to plot your visit here.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2023
The host plotted a return without writers but ended up postponing once last week's negotiations were set.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 25 Sep. 2023
Plus Dancing With the Stars may be the next show plotting its return to have to reverse course.
—Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Sep. 2023
Today, violent American extremists cannot be charged for providing material in support of patently violent domestic groups or for plotting acts which are otherwise classified as terrorist attacks when a foreign terrorist entity is involved.
—Bruce Hoffman and Jacob Ware, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2023
The Justice Department is challenging efforts by ex-President Donald Trump to disqualify the Washington judge presiding over the case charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election.
—Eric Tucker The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2023
As Dipesh and Honest Lier plotted a route around a nearby mountain, Madan alerted me to a white high-rise.
—Sean Williams, Harper's Magazine, 11 Sep. 2023
The Justice Department is challenging efforts by former President Donald Trump to disqualify the Washington judge presiding over the case charging him with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
—Eric Tucker The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2023
See More
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
Phrases Containing plot
Dictionary Entries Near plot
Cite this Entry
“Plot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plot. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
plot
1 of 2 noun1
: 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
Nglish: Translation of plot for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of plot for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plot
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