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

Ben Collins, a former NBC News journalist who is chief executive of The Onion’s parent company, said on X: “We're planning on making a very stupid website.”

From BBC

Gray said all the engagements were “official ministerial business”, and that he had not planned to attend only Aberdeen club matches.

From BBC

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

Two secondary schools could take on 600 extra pupils between them after plans to build a new school became too expensive.

From BBC

Related Words

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

More About Plan

What is a basic definition of plan?

A plan is a program or method prepared ahead of time, a project or definite purpose, or a design or drawing of something. Plan has several other senses as a noun and a verb.

When you come up with a plan, you are creating a method or scheme to do something, make something, or take another kind of action, like a plan for getting your homework done. If someone does something without thinking about what to do, how to do it, and when to do it, they don’t have a plan. A plan doesn’t have to be written down, though. It may only exist in your mind. A person who comes up with a plan is a planner.

• Real-life examples: Your school very likely has a plan for everyone leaving the building if there is a fire. Criminals often come up with a plan  of how they will steal something and when so that they will know what to do and be able to leave quickly.
• Used in a sentence: The prisoners needed hot air balloons for their elaborate escape plan. 

Plan is used in this same sense as a verb to mean to scheme something ahead of time.

• Used in a sentence: We planned a surprise party for my dad. 

Plan can also mean a project or definite purpose that someone has thought about or has scheduled to happen. In this sense, it is often used in the plural as plans.

• Used in a sentence: She couldn’t go hiking with us because she had already made plans to travel to California.

Plan is also used as a synonym for diagram and blueprint. A plan of a warehouse, for example, will likely include drawings of the building’s layout or an outline of where wiring and pipes are located within the walls. Usually, an architect or designer will draw up a plan of a building or prototype so that the builders will know what to do.

• Used in a sentence: The fire chief got the building plan from the janitor, so he could find the circuit breaker.

Where does plan come from?

The first records of plan come from the 1670s. It ultimately comes from the Latin adjective plānus, meaning “level.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to plan?

• planner (noun)
• planned (adjective, past tense verb)
• unplanned (adjective)
• preplan (verb)
• replan (verb)
• underplan (verb)
• well-planned (adjective)

What are some synonyms for plan?

• scheme
• program
• project
• method
• blueprint
• diagram
• arrange
• draft

What are some words that share a root or word element with plan? 

• floor plan
• plan B
• plan on
• The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry

What are some words that often get used in discussing plan?

• idea
• preparation
• organization
• seating
• escape
• evacuation

How is plan used in real life?

Plan is a common word that most often means a scheme or to think up a scheme beforehand.

I had a plan to do things on my day off.

I managed a run. That’s it. That’s all I’ve done.

And frankly, that’s probably just what I needed.

— Amber Naslund (@AmberCadabra) January 18, 2021

I was planning on moving apartments soonish but a stray cat just started letting me feed her so I guess this is home.

— Kirsten King (@KirstenKing_) January 20, 2021

My parents never have time to do anything as a family except for when I have plans

— tired (@sandia_jv) January 19, 2021

Try using plan!

True or False?

A plan is a scheme made before something actually happens.