plan

¹

[ plan ]

noun

1. a scheme or method of acting, doing, proceeding, making, etc., developed in advance:

   battle plans.

   Synonyms: system, formula, plot

2. a design or scheme of arrangement:

   an elaborate plan for seating guests.

3. a specific project or definite purpose:

   plans for the future.

4. Also called plan view. a drawing made to scale to represent the top view or a horizontal section of a structure or a machine, as a floor layout of a building.

   Synonyms: chart, diagram, draft, sketch

5. a representation of a thing drawn on a plane, as a map or diagram:

   a plan of the dock area.

6. (in perspective drawing) one of several planes in front of a represented object, and perpendicular to the line between the object and the eye.
7. a formal program for specified benefits, needs, etc.:

   a pension plan.

verb (used with object)

, planned, plan·ning.

1. to arrange a method or scheme beforehand for (any work, enterprise, or proceeding):

   to plan a new recreation center.

   Synonyms: plot, devise, design

2. to make plans for:

   to plan one's vacation.

3. to draw or make a diagram or layout of, as a building.

verb (used without object)

, planned, plan·ning.

1. to make plans:

   to plan ahead; to plan for one's retirement.

plan-

²

1. variant of plano- ¹ before a vowel:

   planate.

plan

/ plæn /

noun

1. a detailed scheme, method, etc, for attaining an objective
2. sometimes plural a proposed, usually tentative idea for doing something
3. a drawing to scale of a horizontal section through a building taken at a given level; a view from above an object or an area in orthographic projection Compare ground plan elevation
4. an outline, sketch, etc
5. (in perspective drawing) any of several imaginary planes perpendicular to the line of vision and between the eye and object depicted

verb

1. to form a plan (for) or make plans (for)
2. tr to make a plan of (a building)
3. tr; takes a clause as object or an infinitive to have in mind as a purpose; intend

Other Words From

• planless adjective
• planless·ness noun
• mis·plan verb misplanned misplanning
• outplan verb (used with object) outplanned outplanning
• over·plan verb overplanned overplanning
• pre·plan verb preplanned preplanning
• re·plan verb (used with object) replanned replanning
• under·plan verb (used with object) underplanned underplanning
• un·plan verb (used with object) unplanned unplanning
• well-planned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of plan¹

First recorded in 1670–80; from French: “ground, plan, groundwork, scheme,” noun use of the adjective: “flat” ( plane ¹ ), a learned borrowing of Latin plānus “level” ( plain ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of plan¹

C18: via French from Latin plānus flat; compare plane ¹, plain ¹

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with plan , also see best-laid plans .

Synonym Study

Plan, project, design, scheme imply a formulated method of doing something. Plan refers to any method of thinking out acts and purposes beforehand: What are your plans for today? A project is a proposed or tentative plan, often elaborate or extensive: an irrigation project. Design suggests art, dexterity, or craft (sometimes evil and selfish) in the elaboration or execution of a plan, and often tends to emphasize the purpose in view: a misunderstanding brought about by design. A scheme is apt to be either a speculative, possibly impracticable, plan, or a selfish or dishonest one: a scheme to swindle someone.

Example Sentences

The team has just two seniors in addition to three players who plan to redshirt in hopes of a larger role next season.

From Los Angeles Times

They recognized that the club’s direct democratic process — and its annual elections of three members of its 15-person board — was a vulnerability, and they assembled the first stages of a plan: a hostile takeover.

From Salon

The plan was for Lamm, who was chair of FAIR’s advisory board, and Frank Morris, who was on the Center for Immigration Studies board, to run for seats in 2004, along with a Cornell University environmental scientist named David Pimentel, who had written extensively for The Social Contract.

From Salon

The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, for example, only has 7% of its assets in listed equities, compared with 60% for traditional pension funds.

From BBC

Other decisions, including a 2020 peace plan greenlighting the annexation of Israeli settlements, were seen as more favourable to the settlers than any previous administration.

From BBC

Related Words

• arrangement
• deal
• idea
• intention
• method
• policy
• procedure
• program
• project
• proposal
• strategy
• suggestion
• system
• treatment