pro·gram
ˈprō-ˌgram 
-grəm
-grəm
1
[Late Latin programma, from Greek]
: a public notice
2
a
: a brief usually printed outline of the order to be followed, of the features to be presented, and the persons participating (as in a public performance)
b
: the performance of a program
especially
: a performance broadcast on radio or television
3
: a plan or system under which action may be taken toward a goal
4
5
6
a
: a sequence of coded instructions that can be inserted into a mechanism (such as a computer)
b
dated
: a complete plan for solving a problem by the use of a mechanism (such as a computer) that includes both instructions to be inserted into the mechanism and plans for human activities such as interpreting output
c
: the genes or sequences of DNA or RNA that are part of an organism or cell and encode or determine a process, trait, or behavior
… a mouse in which a tiny but crucial bit of the genetic program has been eliminated.—
Bruce Fellman
Bruce Fellman
also
: a process, trait, or behavior determined by or as if by the genetic material of an organism
Orb webs are marvels of geometry and construction. They are built according to a complex behavioral program, which is highly flexible in some respects and very precise in others. —Michael H. Robinson
Michael H. Robinson
pro·gram
ˈprō-ˌgram
-grəm
variants
or less commonly programme
programmed or programed; programming or programing
1
a
: to arrange or furnish a program of or for : bill
b
: to enter in a program
2
: to work out a sequence of operations to be performed by (a mechanism, such as a computer) : to provide with a program
3
a
: to insert a program for (a particular action) into or as if into a mechanism (such as a computer)
b
: to control by or as if by a program
c(1)
: to code in an organism's program
(2)
: to provide with a biological program
cells programmed to synthesize hemoglobin
4
: to predetermine the thinking, behavior, or operations of as if by computer programming
children are programmed into violence—Lisa A. Richette
Lisa A. Richette
Examples of program in a Sentence
Noun
a program of regular dental checkups
the program will tell us the scheduled order of musical numbers
Verb
He programmed the computer to calculate his monthly expenses and earnings.
She is learning how to program in school.
Can you help me program my cell phone?
Recent Examples on the WebRonny Maye, Essence, 22 Apr. 2024
Taylor Wilson: So, Erin, the Trump campaign and Republican National Committee have launched this program to combat voter fraud.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
After mounting resident complaints in 2019, the Common Council gave DNS and the police department the authority to issue citations for dumping and also established a portal and a reward program for people to submit complaints.
—Journal Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2024
Each former inmate who enrolls in the program, which lasts a year or more, must go through Moral Recognition Therapy, a 12-step type program that aims to reduce recidivism by changing one’s criminal behavior patterns.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2024
Homelessness rose 12% from 2022 to 2023, its highest level since tracking began in 2007, the report found, as housing prices soared and pandemic-era assistance programs expired.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2024
April was the last month of full program benefits, but households could receive a partial discount in May.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
Some have had to cut positions and scrap programs such as summer school.
—Nick Sullivan, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
At least, this was an express directive that had been disseminated en masse via television shows like What Not to Wear and How to Look Good Naked–the same programs that encouraged people to categorize their bodies into adverse fruit shapes.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2024
Jessica Nix, Fortune Europe, 19 Apr. 2024
However, the show introduces a malicious version of a Mister Handy robot — one that has been programmed to harvest organs.
—Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024
As someone who has lived through the reality that the kids and young adults in his organization face every day, Hollins believes that many children are programmed for survival.
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
The dial on the front of the coffee maker allows the user to choose how many cups are being brewed, program the time, and set an automatic wakeup timer.
—Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2024
The dusk-to-dawn lights automatically illuminate as the sun sets and can be programmed to either display a simple white light or shift into RGB mode.
—Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 9 Apr. 2024
Molina, who has programmed the Miami Film Festival’s short film selection and founded his own LGBTQ short film festival, strongly believes in the community’s potential to do great things in cinema.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
Then that frequency information from an individuals voice analysis is used to program the music, light patterns and vibrations.
—Yola Robert, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
In addition to the music, the festival highlights the region’s artisanal food and craft beer scene, as well as hosts programming dedicated to comedy, visual art, literature, and family fun.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2024
Noun
The National Park Service facilitates the Every Kid Outdoors program for nature lovers and eager learners in the fourth grade.
—Ronny Maye, Essence, 22 Apr. 2024
Taylor Wilson: So, Erin, the Trump campaign and Republican National Committee have launched this program to combat voter fraud.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
After mounting resident complaints in 2019, the Common Council gave DNS and the police department the authority to issue citations for dumping and also established a portal and a reward program for people to submit complaints.
—Journal Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2024
Each former inmate who enrolls in the program, which lasts a year or more, must go through Moral Recognition Therapy, a 12-step type program that aims to reduce recidivism by changing one’s criminal behavior patterns.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2024
Homelessness rose 12% from 2022 to 2023, its highest level since tracking began in 2007, the report found, as housing prices soared and pandemic-era assistance programs expired.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2024
April was the last month of full program benefits, but households could receive a partial discount in May.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
Some have had to cut positions and scrap programs such as summer school.
—Nick Sullivan, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024
At least, this was an express directive that had been disseminated en masse via television shows like What Not to Wear and How to Look Good Naked–the same programs that encouraged people to categorize their bodies into adverse fruit shapes.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2024
Verb
In fact, the bot is programmed to not talk about anything outside of the WHO’s purview, including questions on specific drugs.
—Jessica Nix, Fortune Europe, 19 Apr. 2024
However, the show introduces a malicious version of a Mister Handy robot — one that has been programmed to harvest organs.
—Keith Langston, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024
As someone who has lived through the reality that the kids and young adults in his organization face every day, Hollins believes that many children are programmed for survival.
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
The dial on the front of the coffee maker allows the user to choose how many cups are being brewed, program the time, and set an automatic wakeup timer.
—Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2024
The dusk-to-dawn lights automatically illuminate as the sun sets and can be programmed to either display a simple white light or shift into RGB mode.
—Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 9 Apr. 2024
Molina, who has programmed the Miami Film Festival’s short film selection and founded his own LGBTQ short film festival, strongly believes in the community’s potential to do great things in cinema.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
Then that frequency information from an individuals voice analysis is used to program the music, light patterns and vibrations.
—Yola Robert, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
In addition to the music, the festival highlights the region’s artisanal food and craft beer scene, as well as hosts programming dedicated to comedy, visual art, literature, and family fun.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'program.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to program
Dictionary Entries Near program
Cite this Entry
“Program.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/program. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
program
1 of 2 noun
pro·gram
ˈprō-ˌgram
-grəm
-grəm
1
: a brief usually written outline describing a presentation (as of a concert or play)
2
: the performance of a program
received a trophy at the awards program
especially
: a performance that is broadcast
3
: a plan of action
a program of regular dental checkups
a political program
4
: a set of step-by-step instructions that tell a computer to do something with data
program
2 of 2 verb
programmed or programed
-ˌgramd,
-grəmd
; programming or programing
1
: to provide with a program
program a computer
2
: to direct the thinking or behavior of (someone) as if by a computer program
he's been programmed to believe he can succeed if he tries
Medical Definition
program
1 of 2 noun
pro·gram
variants
or chiefly British programme
: the genes or sequences of DNA or RNA that are part of an organism or cell and encode or determine a process, trait, or behavior
program
2 of 2 transitive verb
variants
or chiefly British programme
programmed or programed; programming or programing
1
: to code in an organism's program
2
: to provide with a biological program
cells programmed to synthesize hemoglobin
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