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, planning 

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, planning 

1. to make plans.

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

plan-

²

1. variant of plano- 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 Word Forms

• planless adjective
• planlessness noun
• misplan verb
• outplan verb (used with object)
• overplan verb
• preplan verb
• replan verb (used with object)
• underplan verb (used with object)
• unplan verb (used with object)
• 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

• 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 closure has stranded many Palestinians in the West Bank, who are unable to go on planned trips abroad.

From BBC

The team said they are "currently in the planning phase for 2026 team branding and will communicate any potential changes in due course".

From BBC

With CrossWorlds, there are plans to add a revolving cast of characters and offer players a "season pass" add-on to access certain extras - a feature seen in many online titles.

From BBC

There’s also a few outdoor spots, though those weren’t so deliberately planned.

From Los Angeles Times

Currently, multiple companies such as Serve, Coco and Starship operate robots in various parts of metropolitan Los Angeles with plans for more bots underway.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.