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
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
planned; planning
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
1
: to make plans
plan ahead
2
: to have a specified intention
—used with on
plans on going
Synonyms
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
Jennifer Creery, Fortune Europe, 10 Apr. 2024
The leaders are expected to discuss plans to upgrade the U.S. military command structure in Japan.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune Asia, 10 Apr. 2024
The exploration data collected to-date indicates that previous historical open pit heap leaching operations did not advance their plans to develop attractive, wide, shallow gold-silver mineralization hosted in major structural zones in the Bisbee Group sediments west of the Contention Pit.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) — who is expected to move to table or dismiss the articles — said Tuesday that regardless of the delay, Democrats will stick with their original plan.
—Liz Goodwin, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
In fact, just 43% of millennials expect to gain financially from the death of a loved one—and only 50% of those individuals are relying on it as part of their financial plan.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
After the game, the Lakers acknowledged that funneling the ball toward Green was a part of their plan.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
City Council adopted Duggan's plan to contribute $170 million instead of an initial proposal of $150 million for the 2025 fiscal year.
—Detroit Free Press, 9 Apr. 2024
One point of emphasis: a plan to better manage resources and expenses, according to one person in attendance.
—Kenrick Cai, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Devorah Lev-Tov Kin Woo Ella Riley-Adams Jameson Montgomery Kurt Soller Megan O’Sullivan, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
The three men had been planning to fish the waters around the Pikelot Atoll, part of Micronesia, on March 31 when their 20-foot open skiff was caught by swells and its outboard motor was damaged, according to US Coast Guard officials.
—Brad Lendon, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
He’s been living at the junction of Beverly Hills, Pico-Robertson and West Hollywood since November and, following a short trip back to the East Coast in March, plans to stay through June.
—Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
As droughts continue to deplete the Panama Canal’s water levels, the maritime trading hub’s operators are planning a workaround.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 Apr. 2024
The test Marshall and community members planned to discuss is referred to as the Racial Equity Analysis Protocol, referred to as REAP.
—Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 11 Apr. 2024
The researchers are now planning to launch a larger, phase 2 trial that would look at the vaccine’s effectiveness.
—Akshay Syal, M.d., NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Cornyn, who is in the running to replace Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Sen. Thom Tillis plan to introduce a joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act.
—Robert Legare, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024
Logan’s mom is planning to raise funds through her foundation to help families who enroll their child in Azzam’s clinical trials.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Noun
Tesco also announced plans to buy back £1 billion of shares over the next 12 months.
—Jennifer Creery, Fortune Europe, 10 Apr. 2024
The leaders are expected to discuss plans to upgrade the U.S. military command structure in Japan.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune Asia, 10 Apr. 2024
The exploration data collected to-date indicates that previous historical open pit heap leaching operations did not advance their plans to develop attractive, wide, shallow gold-silver mineralization hosted in major structural zones in the Bisbee Group sediments west of the Contention Pit.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) — who is expected to move to table or dismiss the articles — said Tuesday that regardless of the delay, Democrats will stick with their original plan.
—Liz Goodwin, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
In fact, just 43% of millennials expect to gain financially from the death of a loved one—and only 50% of those individuals are relying on it as part of their financial plan.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
After the game, the Lakers acknowledged that funneling the ball toward Green was a part of their plan.
—Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024
City Council adopted Duggan's plan to contribute $170 million instead of an initial proposal of $150 million for the 2025 fiscal year.
—Detroit Free Press, 9 Apr. 2024
One point of emphasis: a plan to better manage resources and expenses, according to one person in attendance.
—Kenrick Cai, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
This month, the group plans to open Only Love Strangers, a bar, jazz lounge and restaurant in a bi-level space in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, a few blocks away from the original MáLà Project.
—Devorah Lev-Tov Kin Woo Ella Riley-Adams Jameson Montgomery Kurt Soller Megan O’Sullivan, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2024
The three men had been planning to fish the waters around the Pikelot Atoll, part of Micronesia, on March 31 when their 20-foot open skiff was caught by swells and its outboard motor was damaged, according to US Coast Guard officials.
—Brad Lendon, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
He’s been living at the junction of Beverly Hills, Pico-Robertson and West Hollywood since November and, following a short trip back to the East Coast in March, plans to stay through June.
—Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
As droughts continue to deplete the Panama Canal’s water levels, the maritime trading hub’s operators are planning a workaround.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 Apr. 2024
The test Marshall and community members planned to discuss is referred to as the Racial Equity Analysis Protocol, referred to as REAP.
—Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 11 Apr. 2024
The researchers are now planning to launch a larger, phase 2 trial that would look at the vaccine’s effectiveness.
—Akshay Syal, M.d., NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Cornyn, who is in the running to replace Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Sen. Thom Tillis plan to introduce a joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act.
—Robert Legare, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2024
Logan’s mom is planning to raise funds through her foundation to help families who enroll their child in Azzam’s clinical trials.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near plan
Cite this Entry
“Plan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plan. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plan
1 of 2 noun1
: 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
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
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