plan 1 of 2

noun

ˈplan How to pronounce plan (audio)
Definition of plannext
1
as in strategy
a method worked out in advance for achieving some objective there is a contingency plan in the office for handling almost any emergency

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in goal
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish our plan is to finish up by next Friday

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

plan

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to prepare
to work out the details of (something) in advance we planned the school dance down to the smallest detail

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to intend
to have in mind as a purpose or goal I plan to have a party for my birthday, even if I have to throw it myself

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun plan contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of plan are design, plot, project, and scheme. While all these words mean "a method devised for making or doing something or achieving an end," plan always implies mental formulation and sometimes graphic representation.

plans for a house

When is design a more appropriate choice than plan?

While in some cases nearly identical to plan, design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony.

a design for a new dress

When could plot be used to replace plan?

While the synonyms plot and plan are close in meaning, plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions.

the plot of the play

When is it sensible to use project instead of plan?

In some situations, the words project and plan are roughly equivalent. However, project often stresses imaginative scope and vision.

a project to develop the waterfront

Where would scheme be a reasonable alternative to plan?

The synonyms scheme and plan are sometimes interchangeable, but scheme stresses calculation of the end in view and may apply to a plan motivated by craftiness and self-interest.

a scheme to defraud the government

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of plan
Noun
The long wait to break through cannot only be attributed to underhanded tricks, as Paraguay approached this game with a clear tactical plan against a team comprised of vastly superior players. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026 Fourteen seasons have been played since the Minutemen elevated to the FBS and 14 seasons have gone by the board without making postseason plans. — Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
Verb
The club, which is in the midst of building a 20,000-seat stadium in the Railyards, already plans to have more watch parties for future World Cups. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026 Once the nonprofit receives enough stories, Goldsmith plans to use artificial intelligence to consolidate their insight into actionable processes for growth that will be publicly shared. — Matt Emma, USA Today, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for plan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plan
  1. strategy
  2. goal
  3. prepare
  4. intend
  5. blueprint
  6. purpose
  7. design
  8. contemplate
Noun
  • Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Teams that are not ready solve yesterday's problems and call it strategy.
    — Tracy Lawrence, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of strategy
Noun
  • Balogun matched Landon Donovan in 2010 for the second-most goals by an American in a World Cup, behind only Bert Patenaude's four in the initial tournament in 1930.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 2 July 2026
  • Controversial red card looms large The story of the game to that point was Folarin Balogun, who scored a goal in the 45th minute and then was given a controversial red card in the second half.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of goal
Verb
  • Jakucionis addressed the deal while preparing for his current work with Lithuania’s national team in World Cup qualifying.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2026
  • Atop the bar cart is a stainless steel surface coated in a satin finish, which provides a sleek place to prepare appetizers and meals and an easy-to-clean surface.
    — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Definition of prepare
Verb
  • The end of Temporary Protected Status — a program intended to protect people in the event of a natural disaster — heightened concerns about deportation to a country that is reeling after twin earthquakes from June 24.
    — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • If Washington intends to withdraw forces, assets or capabilities, allies need a roadmap and a timeline.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 6 July 2026
Definition of intend
Noun
  • Reliability, familiarity and consistency go a long way when a franchise is laying a new foundation and needs people to serve as the blueprint.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026
  • As rain drizzled and the humidity bore down, the president peered at blueprints for the public golf course, before driving to his own course in Virginia via the Arlington Memorial Bridge, near where his Triumphal Arch may soon be built.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of blueprint
Noun
  • There were other reminders as well, some less subtle than others, of the true purpose of Congress.
    — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
    — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 2 July 2026
Definition of purpose
Verb
  • Rather than designing a luxury escape filled with domestic gadgets, the architects have shaped a home that encourages slowing down and reconnecting with nature.
    — Bridget Borgobello July 03, New Atlas, 4 July 2026
  • The new educational panels were designed to replace ones put up in 2010 that told the story of how nine slaves lived in the home along with George and Martha Washington in the 1790s, when Philadelphia was briefly the nation’s capital.
    — Geoff Mulvihill, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of design
Verb
  • Emergency experts working day and night contemplated various entry and exit routes from the nearest accessible access point, about 75 feet away from where Gil was trapped.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • With a new album out this summer—her first in a decade—Madonna’s reemergence on the pop scene has left many of us contemplating her ultimate place in its firmament.
    — Alex Frank, Vogue, 2 July 2026
Definition of contemplate

Phrases Containing plan

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plaits
plan
plane
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Cite this Entry

“Plan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plan. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on plan

Nglish: Translation of plan for Spanish Speakers

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