plan
1 of 3noun
ˈplan 
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
ˈplan-ləs
adjective planlessly adverb
planlessness noun
plan
2 of 3verb
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 3combining form
variants or plano-
1
: flat
planography
2
: flat and
plano-concave
Synonyms
Noun
- arrangement
- blueprint
- design
- game
- game plan
- ground plan
- master plan
- program
- project
- road map
- scheme
- strategy
- system
Verb
- arrange
- blueprint
- budget
- calculate
- chart
- choreograph
- design
- frame
- lay out
- map (out)
- organize
- prepare
- project
- scheme (out)
- shape
- strategize (about)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Sam Janesch, Baltimore Sun, 17 Feb. 2023 The plan brought harsh critics who then pushed for data transparency rather than limiting data collection. —Alexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2023 Under the plan, groups of five or more American citizens or permanent residents can apply to privately sponsor the resettlement of refugees. —Geraldo Cadava, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2023 The unlimited plan ranges from $250 to $525 depending on the length of the cruise. —Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2023 The plan can be viewed online at: https://www.glenview.il.us/Pages/Bike-and-Pedestrian-Master-Plan.aspx. —Brian L. Cox, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2023 By the time today’s kindergartners are high school seniors, the plan was supposed to increase statewide education spending by 45 percent, or $3.9 billion. —Erin Cox, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2023 The plan will be overseen by the global auditing giant PwC and would compensate investors for potential financial losses if businesses were expropriated or projects were disrupted. —Liz Alderman, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2023 Most supported the Arizona plan and opposed further federal involvement, including comments received from the Arizona Public Service Co. utility, Associated Specialty Contractors of Arizona and the North Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. —Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 16 Feb. 2023 Scott Dance And Justine Mcdaniel, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Feb. 2023 Those who plan to get ashes will go to a church service and receive the ash crosses on their foreheads. —Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 17 Feb. 2023 The system's operators plan to draw from a nearby reservoir while the spill passes by, Mark Hall, Ashland’s director of utilities, said Wednesday. —Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 16 Feb. 2023 Chief Deputy District Attorney Sean Gallagher said prosecutors plan to move ahead with the case. —Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2023 Having an adaptive attitude is essential for mid-career professionals who plan to pursue higher education. —Shruti Parashar, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023 Authorities plan to roll out guidelines for companies by June, said a representative from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. —Michelle Toh, CNN, 3 Feb. 2023 Attorneys for Mills and Martin have said their clients plan to plead not guilty. —Antonio Planas, NBC News, 2 Feb. 2023 Officials say those who plan to attend the event should enter the County Operations Center campus from Chesapeake Drive. —Karen KucherFeb. 2, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2023 See More
Noun
One of the General Assembly’s largest undertakings during the 90-day legislative session in Annapolis, the cannabis plan was set in motion earlier this month when lawmakers drafted the lengthy proposal to regulate and tax the new industry. —Sam Janesch, Baltimore Sun, 17 Feb. 2023 The plan brought harsh critics who then pushed for data transparency rather than limiting data collection. —Alexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2023 Under the plan, groups of five or more American citizens or permanent residents can apply to privately sponsor the resettlement of refugees. —Geraldo Cadava, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2023 The unlimited plan ranges from $250 to $525 depending on the length of the cruise. —Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2023 The plan can be viewed online at: https://www.glenview.il.us/Pages/Bike-and-Pedestrian-Master-Plan.aspx. —Brian L. Cox, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2023 By the time today’s kindergartners are high school seniors, the plan was supposed to increase statewide education spending by 45 percent, or $3.9 billion. —Erin Cox, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2023 The plan will be overseen by the global auditing giant PwC and would compensate investors for potential financial losses if businesses were expropriated or projects were disrupted. —Liz Alderman, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2023 Most supported the Arizona plan and opposed further federal involvement, including comments received from the Arizona Public Service Co. utility, Associated Specialty Contractors of Arizona and the North Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. —Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 16 Feb. 2023 Verb
Teams from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Health and Human Services Department plan to help examine people who report symptoms, Tierney said. —Scott Dance And Justine Mcdaniel, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Feb. 2023 Those who plan to get ashes will go to a church service and receive the ash crosses on their foreheads. —Katie Bowlby, Country Living, 17 Feb. 2023 The system's operators plan to draw from a nearby reservoir while the spill passes by, Mark Hall, Ashland’s director of utilities, said Wednesday. —Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 16 Feb. 2023 Chief Deputy District Attorney Sean Gallagher said prosecutors plan to move ahead with the case. —Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2023 Having an adaptive attitude is essential for mid-career professionals who plan to pursue higher education. —Shruti Parashar, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023 Authorities plan to roll out guidelines for companies by June, said a representative from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. —Michelle Toh, CNN, 3 Feb. 2023 Attorneys for Mills and Martin have said their clients plan to plead not guilty. —Antonio Planas, NBC News, 2 Feb. 2023 Officials say those who plan to attend the event should enter the County Operations Center campus from Chesapeake Drive. —Karen KucherFeb. 2, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2023 See More 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
Phrases Containing plan
Kids Definition
plan
1 of 2 noun ˈplan
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
-ləs
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
noun1
: 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
plan 1 of 2
noun
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
- strategy
- blueprint
- program
- scheme
- project
- design
- system
- proposal
- arrangement
- master plan
- idea
- game plan
- way
- ground plan
- game
- recipe
- road map
- procedure
- intention
- intent
- plot
- policy
- purpose
- aim
- technique
- stratagem
- maneuver
- conspiracy
- gambit
- means
- device
- ruse
- tactic
- protocol
- map
- counterstrategy
- counterplan
- subterfuge
- trick
- conception
- collusion
- formula
- setup
- contrivance
- layout
- platform
- diagram
- pattern
- projet
- specific(s)
- specification(s)
2
as in goal
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish our plan is to finish up by next Friday Synonyms & Similar Words
- goal
- purpose
- aim
- idea
- intention
- intent
- objective
- thing
- dream
- object
- ambition
- design
- target
- meaning
- ideal
- aspiration
- project
- point
- end
- scheme
- hope
- mark
- name of the game
- bourne
- wish
- plot
- desire
- bourn
- mind
- destination
- pretension
- holy grail
- grail
- nirvana
- terminus
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- way
- method
- means
plan
2 of 2verb
1
as in to design
to work out the details of (something) in advance we planned the school dance down to the smallest detail Synonyms & Similar Words
- design
- prepare
- organize
- plot
- devise
- arrange
- blueprint
- project
- budget
- chart
- outline
- calculate
- shape
- draft
- choreograph
- intend
- contemplate
- frame
- scheme (out)
- map (out)
- figure
- lay out
- strategize (about)
- sketch
- contrive
- aim
- conspire
- concert
- machinate
- intrigue
- mean
- meditate
- premeditate
- have on
- get up
- put up
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
- intend
- propose
- contemplate
- aim
- design
- hope
- try
- go
- wish
- purpose
- mean
- attempt
- look
- calculate
- purport
- scheme
- meditate
- dream
- allow
- aspire
- figure on
- consider
- plot
- struggle
- endeavor
- accomplish
- execute
- debate
- effect
- achieve
- strive
- ponder
- perform
- mull (over)
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of plan are design, plot, project, and scheme. While all these words 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
While in some cases nearly identical to plan, design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony.
a design for a new dress
While the synonyms plot and plan are close in meaning, plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions.
the plot of the play
In some situations, the words project and plan are roughly equivalent. However, project often stresses imaginative scope and vision.
a project to develop the waterfront
The synonyms scheme and plan are sometimes interchangeable, but 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