scheme
Americannoun
-
schemes
plural
-
a plan, design, or program of action to be followed; project.
-
an underhand plot; intrigue.
- Synonyms:
- conspiracy, cabal, stratagem
-
a visionary or impractical project.
-
a body or system of related doctrines, theories, etc..
a scheme of philosophy.
-
any system of correlated things, parts, etc., or the manner of its arrangement.
-
a plan, program, or policy officially adopted and followed, as by a government or business.
The company's pension scheme is very successful.
-
an analytical or tabular statement.
-
a diagram, map, or the like.
-
an astrological diagram of the heavens.
verb (used with object)
-
schemes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
schemed,
past participle, past
-
scheming
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
schemes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
schemed,
past participle, past
-
scheming
present participle
noun
-
a systematic plan for a course of action
-
a systematic arrangement of correlated parts; system
-
a secret plot
-
a visionary or unrealizable project
-
a chart, diagram, or outline
-
an astrological diagram giving the aspects of celestial bodies at a particular time
-
a plan formally adopted by a commercial enterprise or governmental body, as for pensions, etc
-
an area of housing that is laid out esp by a local authority; estate
verb
-
(tr) to devise a system for
-
to form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
schemernoun
-
subschemenoun
-
underschemenoun
-
outschemeverb (used with object)
-
schemelessadjective
-
unschemedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
schemesimple
-
schemessimple
-
have schemedperfect
-
has schemedperfect
-
am schemingprogressive
-
are schemingprogressive
-
is schemingprogressive
-
have been schemingperfect progressive
-
has been schemingperfect progressive
Past
-
schemedsimple
-
had schemedperfect
-
was schemingprogressive
-
were schemingprogressive
-
had been schemingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of scheme
First recorded in 1545–55; from Medieval Latin schēma (stem schēmat- ), from Greek schêma “form, figure”
Explanation
A scheme is an elaborate plan or plot. It's going to take a really solid scheme, probably involving teleportation or some sort of temporary cloning, to make an appearance at both parties at once. Scheme comes to us from the Latin word for "figure." And it's still used today to refer to a set of drawings and figures used to map out something. Or maybe you’ve heard people talk about something in the scheme of life." In that case they're talking about something that fits into the bigger picture. But don't forget that schemes often carry a negative connotation — the word brings to mind devious plans and secret plots organized by scheming bad guys.
Vocabulary lists containing scheme
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"The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But she added she did not think benefits in terms of cost of living were measured by the scheme.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
She said the GMCA's loan scheme had been successful in building more homes in the city and generating a return on that investment.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
The BBC joined a patrol with the two plain-clothed female officers who run the new Met scheme, Operation Amicus.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Kaur, who is an Indian national, could be eligible for the government's deportation scheme.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
I’m honestly surprised that Camille and Andre were willing to participate in my scheme.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Croick and Dieffenbach worked via Zoom to study schemes, installations and the skills it took to play under center.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
"There's no simple 'with AI' or 'without AI'," he said at the book fair, adding that basic schemes to categorise how much AI was used to produce a title could fall short.
From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2026
Perhaps the mayor will now muster some sympathy for businesses mugged in similar schemes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
The state estimate it loses millions of dollars annually because of such schemes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
His schemes, until then unknown to us in detail, always dealt with groups of three bases, hydrogen-bonded in the middle, many of which we now knew to be in the wrong tautomeric forms.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
In December, as the coach of the Atlanta Falcons, he schemed his team to a 27-24 victory over the Rams.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
He schemed to get an imported copy seized by customs to trigger a court case over its content.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026
Afforded extra space by his manager's decision to play Jack Grealish alongside him in a central position, De Bruyne schemed in the way he usually does.
From BBC ● Dec. 4, 2024
City-states, hoping to win civic glory, sometimes schemed to bribe top athletes to falsely claim that city as their own.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2024
That day, Seven, Thorn, and Valley huddled by the side entrance of the Ravenskill Hall of Elders and schemed.
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
"I know what I did, I know what we did, and I know how it happened. It didn't feel like we were scheming or plotting."
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
Rent-seeking doesn’t require corrupt businessmen scheming with corrupt politicians.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
Hardly the smoking gun that puts him in an Afghan cave, scheming with Osama bin Laden.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
“They bring a bit of everything, and Coach Patterson does a great job of scheming up the defense,” Paige said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
It demanded that Ernest share a bed with Mollie, and raise children with her, all while plotting and scheming against her family.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
