planning

verb

Definition of planningnext
present participle of plan
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

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 planning Instead of managing an entire meal, planning for just dessert and drinks frees you up to tidy the house or relax without standing over a stove for hours before guests arrive. — Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2026 As the weather begins to cool and the corn stalks reach for the sky, farms begin planning for their annual corn maze adventures. — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026 When Wells Fargo began planning a post-pandemic return to the office, Billesdon requested to continue working remotely. — Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026 Shareholder returns But signs that the company is planning to return more of its profits to shareholders as opposed to recapitalizing them as part of the continuing AI buildout would win even more accolades from Wall Street. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026 That is 35 films the two studios are already planning as independent competitors before any merger occurs. — Joseph M. Singer, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026 Heyward had already been planning on meeting up in spring training with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, a former player, to pick his brain about the transition. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Start planning your itinerary early with a mix of these 10 events. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026 The spacewalk will be the final of three NASA is planning in the month of August, the space agency said in a press release. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for planning
  1. preparing
  2. intending
  3. designing
  4. contemplating
  5. organizing
  6. going
  7. arranging
  8. aiming
Verb
  • The girls of Tuide, despite their young age, have been preparing for this debut for a while, with some members training for as little as eight months, while others trained for over four and a half years.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026
  • While preparing to enter the state in February, Buc-ee’s sued the northern Ohio holding company for Mickey Mart gas stations, arguing its Mickey the Moose logo could be confused with Buc-ee.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of preparing
Verb
  • The supposedly knowing and intending AI now becomes a political actor.
    — Hamilton Mann, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Athletes who completed college in May but who were intending to return to campus can no longer use the Wisne injunction.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of intending
Verb
  • For decades, Canada Goose ducked out of designing summer clothing.
    — Kyle MacNeill, Vogue, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The lawsuit accuses Meta of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features that addict children to its platforms and hide these harms from the public.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of designing
Verb
  • My parents, contemplating their mortality, decided to relocate from the Pacific Northwest to an apartment near me.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Maceta stood contemplating the invincible green of the pastureland.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of contemplating
Verb
  • Those convicted on Friday were key leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, the group responsible for organizing the annual remembrance until 2019.
    — Chris Lau, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Keeping your shoes on the floor isn’t wrong, but there are wrong ways to do it, like organizing them only by color, for one.
    — Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of organizing
Verb
  • The United States is the canal’s biggest user — about 70% of all the goods moving through it are coming to or going from the US.
    — Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In a new post on Instagram, the model shared a photo of herself going topless on a sandy beach.
    — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of going
Verb
  • Trump has privately discussed arranging an in-person meeting with Kim during his next trip to Asia, likely in November, the Journal said, when he is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, China.
    — Anniek Bao,Lisa Kim, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The musician in charge curates the guest experience, creating the soundtrack, collaborating on food and beverage menus, and arranging one-of-a-kind onsite performances that make a weekend feel like a complete all-access adventure.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of arranging
Verb
  • The 138-foot flagship, known as the GX40, is aiming to set a new standard for eco-conscious cruising in the sector.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 25 Aug. 2026
  • In signing Premier League players, De Zerbi and the club are aiming to minimise risk and ensure the team hits the ground running for the 2026-27 campaign after consecutive 17th-place finishes.
    — Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of aiming

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Cite this Entry

“Planning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/planning. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on planning

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about planning

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