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

President Hassan Rouhani said that starting Sunday, Iran would take steps to enrich uranium to levels beyond the limit set in the 2015 deal to curb Tehran’s nuclear program. — Aresu Eqbali, WSJ, "Iran Says It Will Enrich Uranium Beyond Nuclear Deal Limits," 3 July 2019 Although there was no evidence of a link, the government suspended its school vaccination program and promised to investigate in a bid to calm public outcry. — Alex Whiting, CNN, "How France is persuading its citizens to get vaccinated," 3 July 2019 Macron asked Iran also abstain from any other steps that would threaten the deal, which promised to lift trade sanctions in exchange for curbing Iran’s atomic program. — Washington Post, "The Latest: European powers concerned about Iran nuke deal," 2 July 2019 After graduating from Julian High in 1999, Mary chose to attend Texas A&M University because of its solid agriculture and football programs. — Ramona Sentinel, "Community Profile: Agriculture runs deep in teacher Mary Martineau’s family," 2 July 2019 The health department recently secured a $75,000 grant for its syringe-exchange program from the 20-county health nonprofit Interact for Health to fund the strips, said Interact spokesperson Emily Gresham Wherle. — Valerie Royzman, Cincinnati.com, "New step to protect against ODs: Hamilton County offers fentanyl test strips," 2 July 2019 American intelligence officials also suspect there may be a third site, say experts on North Korea’s nuclear program. — Edward Wong, New York Times, "Trump Officials Are Split Over Approach to North Korea Talks," 1 July 2019 That could include an initial freeze on Pyongyang’s nuclear program and will require concessions from the United States. — Noah Bierman, latimes.com, "Trump’s impromptu approach to North Korea divides his administration," 1 July 2019 Just shy of a year since its launch, Spotify is shutting down its upload beta program, which allows independent artists to load their music directly onto the platform for free. — Tatiana Cirisano, Billboard, "Spotify Ends Direct Upload Program, Leaving Distribution To Its Partners," 1 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

First, some people tend to make more oil than other people due to their genetics as we are genetically programmed to make a certain amount of oil. — Sara Radin, Teen Vogue, "What Is Acne? What Causes Pimples and How to Treat Them," 27 June 2019 Conversely, Parker embraced the rituals that Johnson sneered at, as if he were programmed to please. — Elena Nicolaou, refinery29.com, "Luke Parker Is The New Chad Johnson — But Even Worse," 20 June 2019 Presumably they will be programmed to read them too, since novels to this point have depended on a public with a little disposable income. — Marilynne Robinson, Harper's magazine, "Is Poverty Necessary?," 10 June 2019 Tanacon, the brainchild of 20-year-old YouTube star Tana Mongeau, was positioned as counter-programming to VidCon back in June after Mongeau had a bad experience with the major YouTube gathering. — Devon Maloney, The Verge, "How the first Wakandacon escaped the fan convention curse," 13 Aug. 2018 Cross-programming with Thalia Hall piano bar Tack Room includes a DJ set by Waxahatchee front woman Katie Crutchfield, who'll spin records she's bought from 606 at Tack Room beginning at 3:30 PM. — Leor Galil, Chicago Reader, "Music / Do This Record Store Day 2018: here's what shops are doing to celebrate in the Chicago area," 17 Apr. 2018 Power grids can be programmed to sense surges and reroute power to other lines to stop from tripping circuits that protect generators. — Washington Post, "Experts say blackout in Argentina should have been limited," 19 June 2019 For one thing, fans have become programmed to expect a degree of accuracy that's unrealistic to achieve in venues where video replay is unavailable. — Jr Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin wrestler used as example in article highlighting how technology has complicated the jobs of youth sports officials," 19 June 2019 The currency’s blockchain, which is open source, will be programmed in a new language developed by Facebook called Move. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, "Facebook Announces Project Libra, Its Wildly Ambitious Plan to Bring Cryptocurrency to the Masses," 18 June 2019

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.