1
as in strategy
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective
there is a contingency plan in the office for handling almost any emergency
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in goal
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish
our plan is to finish up by next Friday
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to prepare
to work out the details of (something) in advance
we planned the school dance down to the smallest detail
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to intend
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 plan
Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Egypt's $53 billion reconstruction plan lacks specific details on funding sources.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 14 Oct. 2025
Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
If adopted widely, cities could plan maintenance years in advance, avoiding the cycle of patchwork fixes that often make driving a daily headache.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plan
Noun
The Miami Herald wants to hear from people who get their healthcare through Obamacare plans, and small business owners who rely on it for their employees’ healthcare.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Egypt's $53 billion reconstruction plan lacks specific details on funding sources.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
Retailers plan to manage holiday returns and fraudulent activity by increasing focus on third-party logistics partners (49 percent), hiring seasonal staff to handle returns (43 percent) and extending return windows (37 percent).
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025
If adopted widely, cities could plan maintenance years in advance, avoiding the cycle of patchwork fixes that often make driving a daily headache.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plan
Noun
-
Fast-forward to the end of the first half, and the Lions’ decision (and what would have been Kansas City’s usual strategy) paid off for the home team.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
-
For buyers, extra money dries up GM’s strategy of crafting electrified options for its most popular models like the Chevrolet Blazer, Equinox and Silverado directly addressed what consumers wanted from the automaker’s emerging offerings, said Joseph Yoon, Edmunds' consumer insights analyst.—
Jackie Charniga,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The firm’s ultimate goal is to license the technology as well as making it.—
Andrew Saunders,
Fortune,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Skinner leads the team with two goals, while Celebrini, Smith, and Dmitry Orlov have three assists each.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Amazon is preparing to cut as much as 15% of its human resources staff, with additional layoffs likely in other divisions, according to multiple sources familiar with the plans.—
Jason Del Rey,
Fortune,
15 Oct. 2025
-
From frustrating sick days to healing family time and back to the ballroom, see Jen preparing to take on the Viennese Waltz below!—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The flip side to Marner’s exit is that the Leafs have cap flexibility and intend to take a swing with it.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The addition, intended for anyone age 10 and older, is a fish tank filter that can be attached to a tropical aquarium.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The project went platinum within a year, earning four Grammy nominations and introducing a new blueprint for modern soul.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Maybe mom and dad were never supposed to nurture your creativity just like their parents never drew them a blueprint on how to survive as immigrants.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
And a lot of the pseudepigrapha, like the fake gospels and fake apocalypses, fill in gaps in the record that can serve latter-day, post-biblical purposes.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
-
This particular challenge serves many purposes.—
Joe Boylan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The film will expand on the hit series created by Thomas Astruc and designed by Nathanaël Bronn, which has been airing on TF1 in France since 2015, as well as over 120 additional territories worldwide.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The new research focused on an NOA mouse model specifically designed to mimic human genetic deficiencies causing meiotic arrest — a stage where sperm production stalls.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Judge Stanley Blumenfeld agreed to extend the trial date, originally contemplated for next August, to October 2026.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Before Microsoft changed its plans, Martin was contemplating a motion to delay the Village Board rezoning vote at least six months so village officials could gather more information.—
Ricardo Torres,
jsonline.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plan. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share