plan

1 of 3

noun

1
: a drawing or diagram drawn on a plane: such as
a
: a top or horizontal view of an object
b
: a large-scale map of a small area
2
a
: a method for achieving an end
b
: an often customary method of doing something : procedure
c
: a detailed formulation of a program of action
d
: goal, aim
3
: an orderly arrangement of parts of an overall design or objective
4
: a detailed program (as for payment or the provision of some service)
pension plan
planless adjective
planlessly adverb
planlessness noun

plan

2 of 3

verb

planned; planning

transitive verb

1
: to arrange the parts of : design
plan a new layout
2
: to devise or project the realization or achievement of
planned their escape
3
: to have in mind : intend
plans to leave soon

intransitive verb

1
: to make plans
plan ahead
2
: to have a specified intention
used with on
plans on going

plan-

3 of 3

combining form

variants or plano-
1
: flat
planography
2
: flat and
plano-concave
Choose the Right Synonym for plan

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 plan in a Sentence

Noun the army's plan of attack We need to agree on a plan of action. Our plan was to have the guests park on the street, not the lawn. When we met them at the restaurant, they said there had been a change of plan. He changed his long-distance plan. Verb We are busy planning the party. The prisoners spent months planning their escape. a teacher planning her next lesson The students are planning a protest. We have something very special planned for your birthday. Their wedding is planned for June. a planned series of books about cars Things don't always go as planned. Always remember to plan ahead.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
That part of the plan has not changed even as EV sales growth has dampened in the US market. Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024 Max subscriptions include streaming on up to two devices and full HD video quality, and the ad-free plan also offers 30 downloads. Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2024 Oracle’s home state is also the namesake of TikTok’s Project Texas proposal, a $1.5 billion plan the company submitted to regulators in 2022 in hopes of satisfying U.S. national security concerns. Eva Dou, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 Hamas gave mediators a new proposal for a three-stage plan that would end the fighting, according to two Egyptian officials, one who is involved in the talks and a second who was briefed on them. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 17 Mar. 2024 The closures weren't the only news, as the company announced plans for its other properties. Joe Mutascio, The Courier-Journal, 16 Mar. 2024 As the presidential campaign for the 2024 general election now begins in earnest, many Americans will begin to pay closer attention to President Joe Biden’s and former president Donald Trump’s plans for a second term. Roger Ream, National Review, 16 Mar. 2024 On Wednesday, Margaritaville at Lake Lanier Islands held a groundbreaking ceremony to announce their plans for this summer — a new water park. Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024 But the Olympics, with its huge crowds, threatens trouble for how Parisians get around their city, with many making plans to flee on vacation. Catherine Porter, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024
Verb
Polish farmers are planning mass protests across the country on Wednesday, keeping up pressure on officials to act on their demands. Fox News, 18 Mar. 2024 The highest-ranking militant commander to be killed in more than five months of war, Issa was believed by Israel to have played a central role in Hamas’s day-to-day military operations and to have helped plan its attack on Oct. 7. Hajar Harb, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024 But before farmers can trade the tobacco crop for a medical marijuana plot, the state must issue licenses to all business players who plan to enter the industry. Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 18 Mar. 2024 The United Nations is planning an air bridge between Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo, in the neighboring Dominican Republic, in an effort to bring vital supplies to the city. Ray Sanchez, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024 Over the next few weeks, the United States is planning to build a floating dock off Gaza’s shores that the White House has said could eventually help deliver as many as two million meals in Gaza each day. David Segal, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024 Amedy, her mother and stepfather planned to drive from Michigan to Florida to go on a cruise, Amedy told police. USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024 Get a head start on planning your Easter dinner Location: Charlotte area Cost: Varies Easter is coming up fast, so why not plan ahead and check out what local Charlotte restaurants and meal services are offering. Jody MacE, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2024 Serve as research and development center for planning new Marrow offerings. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, plane, foundation, ground plan; partly from Latin planum level ground, from neuter of planus level; partly from French planter to plant, fix in place, from Late Latin plantare — more at floor, plant

Combining form

Latin planus

First Known Use

Noun

1735, in the meaning defined at sense 2c

Verb

1718, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of plan was in 1718

Dictionary Entries Near plan

Cite this Entry

“Plan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plan. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

plan

1 of 2 noun
1
: a drawing or diagram showing the parts or outline of something
2
: a method or scheme of acting, doing, or arranging
a civil defense plan
vacation plans
3
: goal sense 2, aim
our plan was to stop them at the bridge
planless adjective

plan

2 of 2 verb
planned; planning
1
: to form a plan of or for : to arrange the parts or details of ahead of time
plan a church
plan a party
2
: to have in mind : intend
3
: to make plans
planner noun

Legal Definition

plan

noun
1
: a diagram of an area of land (as a subdivision) filed in the registry of deeds see also plot plan
2
: a detailed program
especially : one made under chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code that places future earnings under the control of a trustee, provides for the payment of creditors, and is subject to approval by the creditors

More from Merriam-Webster on plan

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