schedule

1 of 2

noun

sched·​ule ˈske-(ˌ)jül 

-jəl,

Canadian also

ˈshe- 

British usually

ˈshe-(ˌ)dyül 

1

: program

especially : a procedural plan that indicates the time and sequence of each operation

finished on schedule

2

: a written or printed list, catalog, or inventory

also : timetable sense 1

3

: a body of items to be dealt with : agenda

4

a

: a statement of supplementary details appended to a legal or legislative document

b

obsolete : a written document

5

often capitalized : a governmental list of drugs all subject to the same legal restrictions and controls

—usually used with a Roman numeral I to V indicating decreasing potential for abuse or addiction

schedule

2 of 2

verb

scheduled; scheduling

transitive verb

1

: to appoint, assign, or designate for a fixed time

2

a

: to place in a schedule

b

: to make a schedule of

scheduler noun

Synonyms

Noun

• agenda
• calendar
• program
• timetable

Verb

• list
• enter
• record
• catalog
• file

Examples of schedule in a Sentence

Noun

I have a hectic schedule this week.

Students are planning their class schedules for next year.

Sorting the mail is part of her daily schedule.

I lost my class schedule.

Verb

We scheduled a meeting for next week.

I need to schedule a doctor's appointment.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Injuries to All-Stars at inopportune times—such as the one that caused Caitlin Clark to miss her first chance to face Paige Bueckers—have diminished prime-time-window star power during the first half of the season and led to complaints over schedule congestion. —Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 1 July 2025

Over the next several months, X Games will announce more Founder Athletes—presumably including female ones—as well as team names, season schedules, athlete drafts, and media partners. —Michelle Bruton, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Verb

As millions of online shoppers eagerly await the start of Amazon Prime Day, now less than a week away, with sales scheduled to begin on July 8, security researchers have dropped a warning bombshell: the discovery of 120,000 fake Amazon websites waiting to trap users and steal their money. —Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

Payroll deductions were scheduled to begin on July 1, but they’re now slated to start on Jan. 1, 2027, with benefits kicking in the following year. —Jim Edwards, Fortune, 1 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Medieval Latin scedula slip, page, charter, from Late Latin schedula slip of paper, diminutive of Latin *scheda strip of papyrus, probably back-formation from Latin schedium impromptu speech, from Greek schedion, from neuter of schedios casual; akin to Greek schedon near at hand, echein to seize, have

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4b

Verb

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing schedule

• ahead of schedule
• behind/off schedule
• behind schedule
• go according to schedule
• on schedule
• pre-schedule
• run behind schedule
• tight schedule

Kids Definition

schedule

1 of 2 noun

sched·​ule ˈskej-ü(ə)l 

-əl,

 Canadian also  ˈshej-,

 British usually  ˈshed-yü(ə)l

1

a

: a written or printed list or catalog

a schedule of social events

b

: timetable

a plane schedule

a schedule for completion of the school

2

: program entry 1 sense 3, agenda

my schedule for tomorrow

schedule

2 of 2 verb

scheduled; scheduling

1

: to place in a schedule

schedule a meeting

2

: to make a schedule of

scheduled my income and debts

Medical Definition

schedule

1 of 2 noun

sched·​ule

ˈskej-(ˌ)ü(ə)l, ˈskej-əl, Canadian also ˈshej-, British usually ˈshed-(ˌ)yü(ə)l

1

: a program or plan that indicates the sequence of each step or procedure

reinforcement schedules used in conditioning experiments

especially : regimen

antibiotic schedules for treating Lyme disease

2

often capitalized : an official list of drugs that are subject to the same legal controls and restrictions

—usually used with a Roman numeral from I to V indicating decreasing potential for abuse or addiction

the Drug Enforcement Administration classifies heroin as a schedule I drug while diazepam is on schedule IV

schedule

2 of 2 transitive verb

scheduled; scheduling

: to place in a schedule

methadone and phenobarbital are scheduled substances

Legal Definition

schedule

noun

sched·​ule ˈske-jül esp Brit ˈshe-dyül 

1

a

: a list or statement of supplementary details appended to another document

b

: a formal list, table, catalog, or inventory

2

: a plan that indicates the time and sequence of each element

schedule transitive verb