program

noun

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pro·gram | \ ˈprō-ˌgram

, -grəm

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 Phrases Containing program Learn More About program

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 The jury decided that Lilly intentionally underpaid rebates, resulting in a loss for the federal government program and Medicaid agencies in 26 states. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 7 Aug. 2022 But landing Reese signifies two important things for the program. — Stephen Means, cleveland, 6 Aug. 2022 Every year, Chicagoland’s finest classical singers headline the Grant Park Music Festival for a choir-forward program, under director Christopher Bell. — Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2022 Shields also told the school and investigators that Pearson and Bancroft mistreated women who worked for the program. — Larry Lage, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Aug. 2022 Fifth-year wide receiver Gunner Romney gave a more diplomatic answer on what that can do for a program. — Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune, 5 Aug. 2022 That would be something for a program that has gone unbeaten only once — during its 1954 national championship season — and has not won 10 games since 2014. — Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Ward, 6-1 and 185 pounds, batted .416 and had 6 doubles, and threw out 10 of 12 would-be base stealers for the Arkansas Sticks program this summer. — Richard Davenport, Arkansas Online, 4 Aug. 2022 The wake-up times for the Ranch 3.0 program will also be later and the exercise regimen less rigorous. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 4 Aug. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Kiang will program international titles and Baker will take the lead on films from the U.K. and Ireland. — Manori Ravindran, Variety, 21 July 2022 Attaching emotion to successful outcomes will help program your mind and body into producing better golf shots in the future. — Paul Christianson, WSJ, 15 June 2022 There are more questions: how will program such as Unlock Potential not only acquire at-risk talent, but also invest in their growth, retention and acceleration? — Ali Shahbaz, Forbes, 1 June 2022 No-code is a way to program websites, mobile apps and games without using codes or scripts, or sets of commands. — Tam Nguyen, The Conversation, 18 May 2022 Michigan election officials are required to program tabulators to reject ballots containing overvotes. — Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 6 May 2022 And if there is no way to test for consciousness, there is no way to program it. — Stephen Marche, The Atlantic, 19 June 2022 When two subjects, Steve (Teller) and Lizzy (Jurnee Smollett) form a romantic connection, the two begin to rebel against him and his attempts to program them. — Wilson Chapman, Variety, 17 May 2022 And new, incoming talent is looking to program in more contemporary languages like Javascript—as opposed to ABAP, which is what SAP is based upon. — Vaidya Aiyer, Forbes, 29 June 2022 See More

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.