plan, design, plot, scheme, project 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
design often suggests a particular pattern and some degree of achieved order or harmony.
a design for a new dress
plot implies a laying out in clearly distinguished sections with attention to their relations and proportions.
the plot of the play
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
project often stresses imaginative scope and vision.
a project to develop the waterfront
Example Sentences
Noun the army's plan of attack We need to agree on a plan of action. Our plan was to have the guests park on the street, not the lawn. When we met them at the restaurant, they said there had been a change of plan. He changed his long-distance plan. Verb We are busy planning the party. The prisoners spent months planning their escape. a teacher planning her next lesson The students are planning a protest. We have something very special planned for your birthday. Their wedding is planned for June. a planned series of books about cars Things don't always go as planned. Always remember to plan ahead. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Golden has shown a willingness to buck his own party over the years, including coming out against President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan in August. Patrick Whittle, ajc, 18 Sep. 2022 The top Republicans on two House committees want details from the White House on whether any administration officials who worked on President Joe Biden’s student loan debt forgiveness plan will personally benefit from it. James Freeman, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 Biden withdraw student loan forgiveness: Twenty-two Republican governors have signed a letter sent to President Joe Biden calling on him to withdraw his student loan forgiveness plan. Amy Nakamura, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 That will help ensure borrowers are actually receiving the full benefits of the president’s debt forgiveness plan. Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 The letter asks the Biden administration to withdraw the student loan plan immediately. Jacob Scholl, The Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 On the other hand, however, Republicans have been afforded the chance to frame the forgiveness plan as an entitled, socialist bailout that could worsen inflation at taxpayers' expense, notes USA Today. Brigid Kennedy, The Week, 10 Sep. 2022 How many states are taxing debt canceled under Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan? Arika Herron, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Sep. 2022 There’s so much discourse over Biden’s loan forgiveness plan. Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2022
Verb
Developers plan to turn the low-head dam into two whitewater features for rafting, kayaking, canoeing, tubing and surfing. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 20 Sep. 2022 For their next step, the two companies plan to connect a SolarDuck offshore 5 MWp floating solar plant—made of some 70 triangles—to a RWE wind farm that the utility is bidding to build 53 kilometers off the Dutch coast. Ian Mount, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2022 But the prosecution has presented no physical evidence proving that Mays, 21, set the USS Bonhomme Richard on fire, a fact defense lawyers plan to highlight at the sailor’s court martial that is scheduled to start Monday at Naval Base San Diego.Fox News, 19 Sep. 2022 The Brewers plan to utilize Ashby in shorter stints out of the bullpen upon his return. Curt Hogg, Journal Sentinel, 17 Sep. 2022 Just 29% of women plan to vote for Bolsonaro, compared to 46% for his main rival, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.Time, 16 Sep. 2022 Second, employers plan an average of 0.7 WFH days per week after the pandemic, but workers want 1.7 days. James Freeman, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 In Antigua and Barbuda leaders plan to hold referendums within the coming years on officially casting off the monarchy. Daniel Wolfe, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2022 Scientists plan to conduct soil testing at two sites along the Arkansas River where victims of the massacre were believed to have been buried in mass graves.CBS News, 15 Sep. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
French, plane, foundation, ground plan; partly from Latin planum level ground, from neuter of planus level; partly from French planter to plant, fix in place, from Late Latin plantare — more at floor, plant