planning

American  

[plan-ing] / ˈplæn ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or process of making a plan or plans.

---

Etymology

Origin of planning

First recorded in 1740–50; plan + -ing ¹

Explanation

You can use the noun planning to talk about the process of making a plan. Your elaborate tree house project will require hours of planning before you hammer a single nail into a piece of wood. Planning is the act of getting ready for something to happen — you might find that the planning for the prom and the excitement it brings is as fun as the event itself. During planning for any event, you figure out what things you will need, how long it will take, and what you will do if anything goes wrong. For a cook, planning might include finding and measuring all ingredients, gathering the pots and pans they will need, even checking that the stove works!

Example Sentences

The industry still treats estate planning as a downstream activity — something you do after accumulating wealth, as a final step.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026

Elon Musk’s rocket company is planning a record-setting initial public offering of stock.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

He continued: “You know, Melania’s birthday is on Sunday. She’s planning to celebrate at home the same way she always does, looking out a window and whispering, ‘What have I done?'”

From Salon • Apr. 27, 2026

When developers make planning applications to local councils a certain percentage of affordable housing is negotiated but that can be about 80% of the market rate both for rentals and house purchases.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

For Béroud, the glass was a problem, not a solution, and on this Tuesday morning, he was planning a painting that would mock it.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

Related Words

• plan