- present participle of scheme.
scheming
Americanadjective
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of scheming
Explanation
Scheming is an adjective that describes someone who is always doing sneaky things to make things happen, like your scheming friend who invites you to a family party because she secretly wants you to meet her adorable cousin. A scheme is a plan of action that is usually secret or kept hidden. So something described as scheming has the quality of secretive planning. For example, you might offer to keep your mom company on a long drive to drop off a relative at the airport because on the way home, you plan to ask her to stop at the big shopping mall that's right off the highway. That's the essence of being scheming — you conceal your true intentions because you believe it will help you get what you want.
Vocabulary lists containing scheming
Charlotte's Web
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Six of Crows
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As Brave as You
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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.
Scheming Corvette is Palmer’s newest marvelously louche heroine.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
Scheming mastermind Cyrus was punished, but only by being forced to resign the vice presidency.
From Slate • Apr. 20, 2018
His final season includes a production of Dion Boucicault's The School for Scheming, and the UK premiere of It Just Stopped by Australian playwright Stephen Sewe.
From BBC • Nov. 22, 2013
It also has a licensing agreement with figurine manufacturer Bradford Exchange, raising fans’ hopes for a range of “Downton” dolls — Scheming Thomas and Admirable Bates, perhaps.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 16, 2013
Baffled but not dishearten'd she took flight Scheming new tactics: Love came home with me, And prompts my measured verses as I write.
From The Poetical Works of Robert Bridges by Bridges, Robert
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
