program

1 of 2

noun

pro·​gram ˈprō-ˌgram  -grəm 

1

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

2

a

: 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

6

a

: 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

2 of 2

verb

pro·​gram ˈprō-ˌgram 

-grəm

variants or less commonly programme

programmed or programed; programming or programing

transitive verb

1

a

: 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

3

a

: 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

programmability

(ˌ)prō-ˌgra-mə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

programmable

ˈprō-ˌgra-mə-bəl 

adjective or noun

Synonyms

Noun

• agenda
• calendar
• docket
• schedule
• timetable

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

Angelenos can apply for the program online through the Housing Department’s website. —Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2023

The option didn’t come until 2019, though, after the company received strong backlash over privacy concerns related to its human reviewing program. —Huiling Zhou, NBC News, 26 Sep. 2023

Created through the 1964 Food Stamp Act as one of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society programs, SNAP aims to improve the nutrition of impoverished people by supplementing their food income. —Brady Knox, Washington Examiner, 26 Sep. 2023

This year, the local apprentice program for chip-making technicians is training two. —Jimmy Vielkind, WSJ, 26 Sep. 2023

The agricultural program ensures garments are fully traceable back to farms that strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and energy consumption while encouraging biodiversity. —Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2023

Film Festival, which will include participation in the Points North 1:1 program and a special work-in-progress screening session. —Addie Morfoot, Variety, 26 Sep. 2023

Hundreds of thousands of migrants have also applied for the program, even though there's a 30,000 cap on approvals each month across all nationalities. —Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 26 Sep. 2023

One daytime program that has made a return while supporting the writers’ strike is The Sherri Shepard Show. —Vulture, 19 Sep. 2023

Verb

For example, self-driving cars must be programmed to operate in traffic alongside human drivers. —Janet Vertesi, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2023

The strikes have grounded production for months, forcing the networks to program a piecemeal lineup of reality series, sports, games shows and repeats for the next several months. —John Koblin, New York Times, 23 Sep. 2023

Specifically, Lovell programmed the computer to measure officer bias in each report. —cleveland, 17 Sep. 2023

We are programmed from a young age to be light, happy, and positive. —Destiny Bennett, Parents, 15 Sep. 2023

It was programmed with Christian talk shows and sermons, but mixed in classic TV shows. —Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Sep. 2023

The Action Button, which replaces the ring / vibrate switch, can be programmed to do things like activating the camera, turning on the flashlight, starting a Voice Memo, opening a note, switching Focus modes, or running your own custom shortcuts. —Emma Roth, The Verge, 13 Sep. 2023

They could be programmed to create entanglement via random interactions. —Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 11 Sep. 2023

Now owned by Netflix, the theater will be programmed by the American Cinematheque on Friday through Sunday, with Netflix’s John Vanco handling the scheduling for the rest of the week. —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

French programme agenda, public notice, from Greek programma, from prographein to write before, from pro- before + graphein to write — more at carve

First Known Use

Noun

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing program

• get with the program
• work-study program
• program music
• program trading
• program director
• pre-program
• application program interface

• get with the program
• work-study program
• program music
• program trading
• program director
• pre-program
• application program interface

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Kids Definition

program

1 of 2 noun

pro·​gram ˈprō-ˌgram  -grəm 

1

: a brief usually written outline describing a presentation (as of a concert or play)

2

: the performance of a program

received a trophy at the awards program

especially : a performance that is broadcast

3

: a plan of action

a program of regular dental checkups

a political program

4

: a set of step-by-step instructions that tell a computer to do something with data

program

2 of 2 verb

programmed or programed

-ˌgramd,

-grəmd

; programming or programing

1

: to provide with a program

program a computer

2

: to direct the thinking or behavior of (someone) as if by a computer program

he's been programmed to believe he can succeed if he tries

programmable

ˈprō-ˌgram-ə-bəl 

adjective

Medical Definition

program

1 of 2 noun

pro·​gram

variants or chiefly British programme

ˈprō-ˌgram  -grəm 

: 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

program

2 of 2 transitive verb

variants or chiefly British programme

programmed or programed; programming or programing

1

: to code in an organism's program

2

: to provide with a biological program

cells programmed to synthesize hemoglobin