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 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 Cincinnati Public Schools' board of education approved a $3 million settlement during Monday night's board meeting and agreed to have its anti-bullying plan and bullying reporting program regularly monitored over the next two years. — Madeline Mitchell, The Enquirer, 9 June 2021 For more than a decade, the state Legislature has cut Bilingual-Bicultural program funding; last year, about 8% of English Learner programming costs were covered, compared to 32% in 1995. — Christian Robles, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 9 June 2021 Multilevel leadership is inclusive of the C-suite, middle managers, wellness program managers, and wellness champion leaders. — Colleen Reilly, Forbes, 8 June 2021 Through an aggressive inspections program, ICE ensures its facilities follow ICE's National Detention Standards. — Natalia E. Contreras, The Indianapolis Star, 8 June 2021 The theater’s annual collaboration with Baldwin Wallace University’s Music Theatre program is also part of the season. — cleveland, 8 June 2021 Neal plans to bring many of the same philosophies that brought the program success during Amatucci’s watch. — Glenn Graham, baltimoresun.com, 8 June 2021 The astronauts on the Artemis missions, NASA's next program to send the first woman and the first person of color to the moon, will wear the latest spacesuit, called the exploration extravehicular mobility unit, also known as xEMU. — Megan Marples, CNN, 8 June 2021 That’s more astronauts than flew during NASA’s Gemini program. — Washington Post, 8 June 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Users can program the device with different time settings. — Arthur Benjamin, sun-sentinel.com, 13 May 2021 Signing up a music-minded teenager who can write code to program this three-legged psychedelic nickelodeon? — Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2021 Once inside, the vaccine releases mRNA to program the cell to produce spike proteins similar to those on the surface of SARS-CoV-2. — USA Today, 5 Mar. 2021 The tax agency needed more time to program its systems to reflect tax rules signed into law Dec. 27. — Kelly Tyko, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2021 Even more ambitious kids can program the robot with a simple drag-and-drop programming interface. — Dave Johnson, Forbes, 28 Apr. 2021 To program, hold a finger on the sensor, wait for flashing lights, and you're all set. — Gregg Ellman, Star Tribune, 7 Apr. 2021 Option to program the ir remote devices and learn buttons if no available cloud data is matching with. — Maren Estrada, BGR, 15 Apr. 2021 For people who program everything on their phone already and don’t want that to change (and who don’t have a lot of users in the house competing for Wi-Fi and time), Hatch Restore is super smart. — Elizabeth Wallace, CNN Underscored, 17 Mar. 2021

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.