scheme
Americannoun
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a plan, design, or program of action to be followed; project.
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an underhand plot; intrigue.
- Synonyms:
- conspiracy, cabal, stratagem
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a visionary or impractical project.
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a body or system of related doctrines, theories, etc..
a scheme of philosophy.
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any system of correlated things, parts, etc., or the manner of its arrangement.
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a plan, program, or policy officially adopted and followed, as by a government or business.
The company's pension scheme is very successful.
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an analytical or tabular statement.
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a diagram, map, or the like.
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an astrological diagram of the heavens.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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a systematic plan for a course of action
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a systematic arrangement of correlated parts; system
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a secret plot
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a visionary or unrealizable project
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a chart, diagram, or outline
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an astrological diagram giving the aspects of celestial bodies at a particular time
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a plan formally adopted by a commercial enterprise or governmental body, as for pensions, etc
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an area of housing that is laid out esp by a local authority; estate
verb
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(tr) to devise a system for
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to form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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subschemenoun
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underschemenoun
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schemernoun
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unschemedadjective
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schemelessadjective
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outschemeverb (used with object)
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have schemedperfect
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has schemedperfect 3rd person singular
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has been schemingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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are schemingprogressive
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am schemingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been schemingperfect progressive
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schemessingular 3rd person
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is schemingprogressive 3rd person singular
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schemingparticiple
Past
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had schemedperfect
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was schemingprogressive singular
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were schemingprogressive plural
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had been schemingperfect progressive
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schemedparticiple
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schemedsimple
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
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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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.
Kent Ries, the bankruptcy trustee, said he believes Rabo and alleged participants in the scheme should be held to account for McClain’s operation continuing as long as it did.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
The Attorney General's Office is considering whether Digwa's sentence should be referred to the Court of Appeal under the unduly lenient sentence scheme after receiving multiple requests.
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
Sanchez denied having any links to the alleged scheme as he attended an EU summit with Balkan leaders in Montenegro on Friday.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
The hum for readers of this well-crafted book comes from seeing its determined protagonist try to foil that scheme while ensuring poetic justice.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
John F. Kennedy inherited the scheme when he was inaugurated as president in January 1961.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
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.
