ground plan

noun

Definition of ground plannext
as in plan
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective their ground plan is first to finish college and then get married

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ground plan Another researcher, Stéphane Potier, tackled Ulrich von Ensingen’s early-15th-century ground plan of an octagonal tower at Strasbourg. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 23 Apr. 2026 Room for Disagreement Faragasso, of the Institute for Science and International Security, argued a Special Operations ground plan would be far too dangerous and complex, making the option less likely for the US. — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 7 Mar. 2026 In this original usage, it was associated with concepts like designs, ground plans, and sketches—flat forms to be realized as physical structures. — Leo Kim, WIRED, 5 Sep. 2023 The possible dichotomy between ground plan and volumetric form has never been more apparent to me. — Martin Filler, The New York Review of Books, 22 May 2023 Clues were found in the remains of the buildings, ground plans, monuments, and plazas. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2023 The keep-it-in-the-ground plan would require billions of dollars in appropriations from Congress -- and the administration just recently lost a bid in Congress to spend $3 billion buying oil for the government’s strategic reserve. — Sheela Tobben, Bloomberg.com, 5 May 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ground plan
  1. plan
  2. strategy
  3. blueprint
  4. program
  5. scheme
  6. master plan
Noun
  • Depending on your situation, a debt management plan, debt consolidation or simply negotiating directly with creditors may be a better option.
    — Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Their plan to find a long-term answer at QB appears centered on the 2027 draft, which is expected to feature a more talented class with the likes of Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Julian Sayin and CJ Carr.
    — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of plan
Noun
  • Gabby Giffords herself is another key part of the campaign strategy.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • His intelligence and technical ability were a perfect match for Bielsa’s high-risk, high-line strategy.
    — Amitai Winehouse, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of strategy
Noun
  • The genes serve as blueprints for making proteins that drive brain development, but researchers lacked visibility into how those proteins do the work.
    — Pien Huang, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Four reactors, one blueprint The choice of four units is central to the plan.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of blueprint
Noun
  • Parker Washington, a sixth-round pick in 2023, was the last Nittany Lion wideout to get drafted; the program has had 21 other players picked since then.
    — Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • With the government’s blessing, Boeing and Lockheed entered into a 50-50 joint venture, merging their Delta and Atlas rocket programs under one roof.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of program
Noun
  • At 6-foot-6, 265 pounds, Spann-Ford has been utilized in the offense as a key part of its run block scheme while helping to pave the way for outside runs.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The Quebec duo’s face-concealing masks, geometrical hats and polka-dot fashion schemes might scream novelty, but its virtuosic, largely instrumental fare is the genuine article.
    — Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of scheme
Noun
  • The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation launched an international urban planning contest in August 2002, and Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind’s master plan titled ‘Memory Foundations’ was selected.
    — Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The original master plan envisioned millions of square feet of luxury high-rises, retail space, corporate offices and a massive global headquarters for Under Armour, promising an economic lifeline for Baltimore directly off Interstate 95.
    — Ross Marchand, Baltimore Sun, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of master plan

Browse Nearby Words

ground (out)
ground plan
ground plans
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ground plan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ground%20plan. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of empirical

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All