1
as in preparing
to work out the details of (something) in advance
we planned the school dance down to the smallest detail
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in intending
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
I plan to have a party for my birthday, even if I have to throw it myself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of planning
The same pressure that sent me planning a day of tandem biking around an island instead of starting with a conversation, instead of listening to my child.
—
Danielle Marie Holland, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
Users receive suggestions for improving profile photos, generating short introductions, starting conversations, and even planning dates.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Jan. 2026
The couple is planning a larger celebration in Mexico this weekend.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The outcropping, also named Hawksbill Crag for its shape, lets visitors (quite literally) live on the edge, creating a fantastic backdrop for anyone planning a sweeping declaration of their love.
—Cailey Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for planning
Danielle Marie Holland, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026
Users receive suggestions for improving profile photos, generating short introductions, starting conversations, and even planning dates.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 27 Jan. 2026
The couple is planning a larger celebration in Mexico this weekend.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The outcropping, also named Hawksbill Crag for its shape, lets visitors (quite literally) live on the edge, creating a fantastic backdrop for anyone planning a sweeping declaration of their love.
—Cailey Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for planning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for planning
Verb
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With another icy day expected on Tuesday, many medical professionals are preparing to spend another night here at the hospital.—
Erin Jones,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Later clarification confirmed that the submarine is still preparing for submerged operations.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce owns the intellectual property rights to the image of the Hollywood® Sign, so that anyone intending to use and/or access the Hollywood® Sign for commercial purposes must obtain a license or permission from the Hollywood Chamber to do so.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Deer-ly beloved On a now typical frosty evening late last week, Beth Brecher was about to walk out of her back door onto Central Park intending to feed the birds.—
Jerry Shnay,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There are also some clever design details, such as the hidden metal speaker grilles, a nod to Bang & Olufsen’s ethos of designing products outside in and inside out with an eye for detail.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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In their announcement, the Teamsters cast their entry into the campaign as striking back at the artificial intelligence companies designing technologies that threaten the jobs of the union’s roughly 250,000 members.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Among critics is San José Mayor Matt Mahan, a tech-friendly Democrat who is contemplating a run for governor.—
Kevinisha Walker,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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Today's developments, however, also spark a new series of questions worth contemplating.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Gergely Karácsony, mayor of Budapest, Hungary, was charged with organizing an unlawful assembly despite a prohibition order for his role in organizing a gay pride event.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
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The story recounted how, in 1936, Columbia University expelled a student named Robert Burke for organizing a rally outside of the university president’s mansion, in protest of the university’s close ties with Nazism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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San Jose was seventh in MLS with 60 goals scored while going 11-15-8 last season.—
Mercury News,
Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2026
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But most of its richest pleasures come down to Fiennes going balls to the wall with a truly memorable character — half lunatic and half visionary.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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At 99, Mel Brooks does not speak like a man arranging his legacy.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
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Decorating Your Flight While these compound butter ideas are mouthwatering on their own, arranging the tray is all part of the fun of a butter flight.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But the city is plotting a decisive — if a little uneven — course toward a carbon-free future.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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Lowe's merchandising and marketing teams have started plotting out a 12-month plan of items that the company bets could become trending products, with about three to five items debuting each quarter, Wilson said.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Planning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/planning. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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