plan
a scheme or method of acting, doing, proceeding, making, etc., developed in advance: battle plans.
a design or scheme of arrangement: an elaborate plan for seating guests.
a specific project or definite purpose: plans for the future.
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.
a representation of a thing drawn on a plane, as a map or diagram: a plan of the dock area.
(in perspective drawing) one of several planes in front of a represented object, and perpendicular to the line between the object and the eye.
a formal program for specified benefits, needs, etc.: a pension plan.
to arrange a method or scheme beforehand for (any work, enterprise, or proceeding): to plan a new recreation center.
to make plans for: to plan one's vacation.
to draw or make a diagram or layout of, as a building.
to make plans: to plan ahead; to plan for one's retirement.
Origin of plan
1synonym study For plan
word story For plan
The meaning “an organized proposal or scheme of action” first appeared in 1635; the more etymological meaning “a drawing or diagram of an object made by projection on a horizontal plane” appeared in 1664.
The earliest citation for “a formal program for specified benefits” is first recorded in 1912, with specific reference to a savings plan.
Other words for plan
Other words from plan
- planless, adjective
- plan·less·ness, noun
- mis·plan, verb, mis·planned, mis·plan·ning.
- outplan, verb (used with object), out·planned, out·plan·ning.
- o·ver·plan, verb, o·ver·planned, o·ver·plan·ning.
- pre·plan, verb, pre·planned, pre·plan·ning.
- re·plan, verb (used with object), re·planned, re·plan·ning.
- un·der·plan, verb (used with object), un·der·planned, un·der·plan·ning.
- un·plan, verb (used with object), un·planned, un·plan·ning.
- well-planned, adjective
Words that may be confused with plan
Other definitions for plan- (2 of 2)
variant of plano-1 before a vowel: planate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use plan in a sentence
The plan is to stretch it out as long as possible, then probably forget about it, and then suddenly remember it.
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS | Marlow Stern | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTDid the airline file a flight plan that took account of the weather en route from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Singapore?
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501 | Clive Irving | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe various members met for the first time when they traveled to Gambia at the beginning of December to carry out their plan.
The Shadowy U.S. Veteran Who Tried to Overthrow a Country | Jacob Siegel | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTHer new comments will only add to ongoing speculation that the Yorks plan, one day, to remarry.
The family behind Sotto Sotto says that they plan to rebuild, but an insider tells me it may be a while.
The Fiery Death of Sotto Sotto, Toronto’s Celebrity Hotspot | Shinan Govani | December 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
They shall plan how this may be done with due propriety, and shall advise us of their action.
Gordon gave a bitter laugh and went on, with the same strange, serious air of explaining his plan.
Confidence | Henry JamesJoachim, as time showed, never forgave the Emperor for the failure of his cherished plan.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonRipperda's attention was next directed to put his plan of escape, in train for execution.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterStill another kind of war credit bank was created on the co-operative plan to assist the middle and lower classes.
Readings in Money and Banking | Chester Arthur Phillips
British Dictionary definitions for plan
/ (plæn) /
a detailed scheme, method, etc, for attaining an objective
(sometimes plural) a proposed, usually tentative idea for doing something
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 (def. 1), elevation (def. 5)
an outline, sketch, etc
(in perspective drawing) any of several imaginary planes perpendicular to the line of vision and between the eye and object depicted
to form a plan (for) or make plans (for)
(tr) to make a plan of (a building)
(tr; takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to have in mind as a purpose; intend
Origin of plan
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with plan
In addition to the idiom beginning with plan
- plan on
also see:
- best-laid plans
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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