design

1 of 2

verb

de·​sign di-ˈzīn 

designed; designing; designs

transitive verb

1

: to create, fashion, execute, or construct according to plan : devise, contrive

design a system for tracking inventory

2

a

: to conceive and plan out in the mind

They designed the perfect crime.

b

: to have as a purpose : intend

We designed to excel in our studies.

c

: to devise for a specific function or end

a book designed primarily as a college textbook

a suitcase designed to hold a laptop computer

3

archaic : to indicate with a distinctive mark, sign, or name

4

a

: to make a drawing, pattern, or sketch of

To make her dress, Elyse began by designing it on paper.

—Mary Canrobert

b

: to draw the plans for

design a building

designing a new bike

intransitive verb

1

: to conceive or execute a plan

2

: to draw, lay out, or prepare a design

was trained to design for homes and offices

designedly

di-ˈzī-nəd-lē 

adverb

design

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a particular purpose or intention held in view by an individual or group

He has ambitious designs for his children.

b

: deliberate purposive planning

more by accident than design

2

: a mental project or scheme in which means to an end are laid down

was never part of my design

3

a

: a deliberate undercover project or scheme : plot

… a declaration of a design upon his life.

—John Locke

b

designs plural : aggressive or evil intent

—used with on or against

The new hire has designs on my job.

4

a

: the process of planning how something will look, happen, be made, etc. : the process of designing something

the design and development of new products

b

: the arrangement of elements or details in a product or work of art

There are problems with the design of the car's braking system.

… his sense of structure, both in the general design of Paradise Lost and Samson, and in his syntax …

—T. S. Eliot

c

: a preliminary sketch or outline showing something that is being planned or created

examined the designs for the new bridges

5

a

: an underlying scheme that governs functioning, developing, or unfolding : pattern, motif

His ad-libbing may or may not be spontaneous. But one thing is certain. It is not unfortified by design …

—John Mason Brown

b

: a plan or protocol for carrying out or accomplishing something (such as a scientific experiment)

the design of the study

also : the process of preparing this

6

: a decorative pattern

a floral design

7

: the creative art of executing aesthetic or functional designs

studied design in college

Synonyms of design

Verb

• plan
• intend
• look

Noun

• plan
• strategy
• blueprint
• project
• program
• scheme
• system

Choose the Right Synonym for design

intention, intent, purpose, design, aim, end, object, objective, goal mean what one intends to accomplish or attain.

intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about.

announced his intention to marry

intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness.

the clear intent of the statute

purpose suggests a more settled determination.

being successful was her purpose in life

design implies a more carefully calculated plan.

the order of events came by accident, not design

aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing.

her aim was to raise film to an art form

end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such.

willing to use any means to achieve his end

object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need.

his constant object was the achievement of pleasure

objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable.

their objective is to seize the oil fields

goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship.

worked years to reach her goals

plan, design, plot, scheme, project mean a method devised for making or doing something or achieving an end.

plan always implies mental formulation and sometimes graphic representation.

plans for a house

design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony.

a design for a new dress

plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions.

the plot of the play

scheme stresses calculation of the end in view and may apply to a plan motivated by craftiness and self-interest.

a scheme to defraud the government

project often stresses imaginative scope and vision.

a project to develop the waterfront

Examples of design in a Sentence

Verb

A team of engineers designed the new engine.

Who designed the book's cover?

He designed the chair to adjust automatically.

They thought they could design the perfect crime.

design a strategy for battle

Noun

There are problems with the design of the airplane's landing gear.

I like the design of the textbook.

I love the sculpture's design.

The machine had a flawed design.

the design and development of new products

Correcting mistakes is part of the design process.

a number of design concepts

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

This black turtleneck sweater is designed in a soft cotton and modal blend and features ribbed trim at the collar, cuffs, and hem. —Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025

The moose-and-pine-tree fair isle pattern is designed on the same fit as the brand’s crewneck sweater, and the soft cashmere fabric is ribbed at the neck, hem, and cuffs for a pop of texture. —Staff Author, Southern Living, 30 Oct. 2025

Noun

Quince Italian Leather Horsebit Loafer The leather loafers come in three neutral colors, including black, tan, and white, and each features the same horsebit double-ring and gold bar on the front that’s so similar to the design of Gucci’s pair. —Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025

Built to last, the 2020 model features a new roof design that boasts up to 90 pounds per square foot of snow load. —Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, to outline, indicate, mean, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French designer to designate, from Medieval Latin designare, from Latin, to mark out, from de- + signare to mark — more at sign

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Noun

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing design

• by design
• co-design
• graphic design
• intelligent design
• interior design

Rhymes for design

• affine
• airline
• align
• aline
• assign
• baseline
• beamline
• benign
• bloodline
• bovine
• byline
• canine

Kids Definition

design

1 of 2 verb

de·​sign di-ˈzīn 

1

a

: to think up and plan out in the mind

designed the perfect crime

b

: to have as a purpose : intend

designed to become a lawyer

c

: to create for a specific function or end

design a training program for auto mechanics

2

a

: to make a pattern or sketch of

design new fashions

b

: to think up and draw the plans for

design an airplane

design

2 of 2 noun

1

: a project or scheme in which means to an end are laid down

2

: deliberate planning : a planned intention

happened by accident rather than by design

3

: a secret project or scheme : plot

—often used in plural with on or against

had designs on the money

has no designs against friendly governments

4

: a preliminary sketch, model, or plan

5

: the arrangement of elements that make up a structure or a work of art

6

: a decorative pattern

Medical Definition

design

noun

de·​sign di-ˈzīn 

: a plan or protocol for carrying out or accomplishing something (especially a scientific experiment)

also : the process of preparing this

design transitive verb