program

noun

pro·gram | \ ˈprō-ˌgram,

Definition of program

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 [ Late Latin programma, from Greek ] : a public notice

2a : a brief usually printed outline of the order to be followed, of the features to be presented, and the persons participating (as in a public performance)

b : the performance of a program especially : a performance broadcast on radio or television

3 : a plan or system under which action may be taken toward a goal

4 : curriculum

5 : prospectus, syllabus

6a : a sequence of coded instructions that can be inserted into a mechanism (such as a computer)

b dated : a complete plan for solving a problem by the use of a mechanism (such as a computer) that includes both instructions to be inserted into the mechanism and plans for human activities such as interpreting output

c : the genes or sequences of DNA or RNA that are part of an organism or cell and encode or determine a process, trait, or behavior … a mouse in which a tiny but crucial bit of the genetic program has been eliminated.— Bruce Fellman also : a process, trait, or behavior determined by or as if by the genetic material of an organism Orb webs are marvels of geometry and construction. They are built according to a complex behavioral program, which is highly flexible in some respects and very precise in others. — Michael H. Robinson

program

verb

pro·gram | \ ˈprō-ˌgram,

-grəm\

variants: or less commonly programme

programmed or programed; programming or programing

Definition of program (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to arrange or furnish a program of or for : bill

b : to enter in a program

2 : to work out a sequence of operations to be performed by (a mechanism, such as a computer) : to provide with a program

3a : to insert a program for (a particular action) into or as if into a mechanism (such as a computer)

b : to control by or as if by a program

c(1) : to code in an organism's program

(2) : to provide with a biological program cells programmed to synthesize hemoglobin

4 : to predetermine the thinking, behavior, or operations of as if by computer programming children are programmed into violence— Lisa A. Richette

Other Words from program Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about program

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Other Words from program

Verb

programmability \ (ˌ)prō-ˌgra-mə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

programmable \ ˈprō-ˌgra-mə-bəl

\ adjective or noun

Examples of program in a Sentence

Noun

a program of regular dental checkups the program will tell us the scheduled order of musical numbers

Verb

He programmed the computer to calculate his monthly expenses and earnings. She is learning how to program in school. Can you help me program my cell phone?

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Malpaso’s four-part, single-intermission program yielded mixed results, but included two especially engaging entries over its 90 minutes. — Robert Greskovic, WSJ, "Fleet-Footed Cultural Ambassadors," 14 Jan. 2019 Certain table tennis clubs host clinics for those with Alzheimer’s, for instance, and others have specific programs for players with autism or Parkinson’s. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "A Look Inside the Challenging and Misunderstood Sport of Table Tennis," 9 Jan. 2019 New York was one of them, with Mayor Mike Bloomberg famously canceling the city's recycling program shortly after taking office. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Bikes, bowling balls, and the delicate balancing act that is modern recycling," 31 Dec. 2018 Some school do not accept transfers mid-year and others require transfer students to complete specific programs before being able to qualify. — Tamara Fuentes, Seventeen, "How To Transfer Colleges When You Think You Want To Switch Schools," 27 Dec. 2018 Hike, paddle board, meditate, and immerse yourself into Exhale's award-winning fitness program with classes Core Fusion bootcamp, restorative chill yoga, and more. — Micaela English, Town & Country, "8 Wellness Retreats To Reset Your Body And Mind," 17 Dec. 2018 Bredesen crunched all these results with a computer algorithm that calculated a complex 36-point personalized therapeutic program to counteract Weinrich’s specific constellation of deficits. — Linda Marsa, Discover Magazine, "A New Treatment for Alzheimer's? It Starts With Lifestyle," 16 Nov. 2018 Fans of the program praise the freshness of the meals, and note that the recipes are simple enough for weeknights, while also being creative and interesting. — SELF, "The Best Meal-Kit Delivery Services to Try in 2019," 1 Jan. 2019 In the 2000s, Washington barred U.S. institutions from dealing with Banco Delta Asia, a Macau bank that handled North Korean funds, and went after North Korean banks that supported the country’s nuclear program. — Niharika Mandhana And Aruna Viswanatha, WSJ, "North Korea Built an Alternative Financial System Using a Shadowy Network of Traders," 28 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Born into a Jewish family that found violence repugnant, Mr. Rosenblatt recalls being bullied as a child and programmed to run away from fights—and not with the intention of fighting another day. — Gordon Marino, WSJ, "‘Why We Fight’ Review: Punch-Drunk Love," 10 Jan. 2019 AltSpace's virtual world had no chapel, so VR Church met in an office building until a member built – that is, programmed – a custom glass cathedral. — Samantha Swindler, OregonLive.com, "A virtual reality baptism will strengthen Oregon man's faith," 19 May 2018 And if prices drop, many are programmed to sell even more. — Gunjan Banerji, WSJ, "Behind the Market Swoon: The Herdlike Behavior of Computerized Trading," 25 Dec. 2018 The Bee, which drives itself and is fully automated, is programmed to leave the Hive and fly around the house, using the Sunflowers as its map. — Brittney Morgan, House Beautiful, "Drones Might Just Be The Future Of Home Security," 7 Dec. 2018 To ensure maximum profit, Andr/Clickr-ad apps were programmed to run automatically each time an infected phone was rebooted, by using a BOOT_COMPLETED broadcast. — Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, "22 apps with 2 million+ Google Play downloads had a malicious backdoor," 6 Dec. 2018 That is, if our internal 24-hour clock—known as the body's circadian rhythm, or internal daily time table—is programmed properly to get the job done. — Kate Branch, Vogue, "The Healthy Diet of the Future Focuses On When—Not Just What—You Eat," 1 Aug. 2018 Because of Twitter's open structure, developers can easily program bots to do simple tasks. — Dakota Crawford, Indianapolis Star, "How the account that lied about Harley-Davidson's CEO used IndyStar to spread fake news," 28 June 2018 Morrison, who works remotely from San Francisco, has programmed films for Real Art Ways since 1996. — Susan Dunne, courant.com, "Real Art Ways Film Programmer John Morrison Indicted On Child Porn Charges," 27 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'program.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.