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 a scheme to cheat people out of their money The company has a new scheme for insurance coverage. a scheme to improve the economy the color scheme of a room Verb He felt that the other men were scheming against him. He was betrayed by a scheming friend. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Iannotti testified at trial that Paris asked her to enter the race, apparently as part of a scheme intended to siphon votes from Brodeur’s Democratic opponent. Annie Martin, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said that Mr. Bannon had acted as the architect of a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud thousands of donors across the U.S.—and hundreds in New York. Corinne Ramey, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Anyone with information about Pratt’s whereabouts, or any potential additional victims of the GirlsDoPorn scheme, are asked to contact the FBI at (800)-CALL-FBI, or tips.fbi.gov. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 Arnal is also named as a defendant in a securities lawsuit that accuses him, his employer and billionaire entrepreneur Ryan Cohen of a pump-and-dump scheme to inflate Bed, Bath & Beyond stock. Irina Ivanova, CBS News, 6 Sep. 2022 The foundation’s board of directors denied the claims, and instead accused Abdullah of a similar scheme, citing a letter from unnamed members of Black Lives Matter Grassroots echoing the accusation. Erika D. Smithcolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2022 The three-technique position is critical to the success of a Cover-2 scheme, and for the Bears to be really good up front, Jones will need to outperform his two-year, $12 million contract. Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2022 On the matter of the fine, Rudofsky finally settled on $12,500, which is approximately 20% of the amount of money Yoder made off of the scheme. Dale Ellis, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2022 The advantage of a levels scheme is that the quarterback always has the same progression from high to low. Lance Reisland, cleveland, 20 Aug. 2022
Verb
The Huskies lost Finkley on the defensive line from last season, which means more teams will scheme to make Osborne the prime target. Dennis Victory, al, 5 Aug. 2022 Because the Beavers’ fifth-year coordinator can’t wait to get to the whiteboard and digital devices to scheme for the Sept. 3 opener against Boise State.oregonlive, 24 Aug. 2022 Rounding out the category is The Tinder Swindler, a true crime doc about a man who used the dating app to scheme unsuspecting women out of cash. Tyler Coates, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Aug. 2022 Here, founder and CEO Don Bhengu (Dumisani Mbebe) and his minions family plot and scheme the next big steps for their company, Bhengu Beauty. Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 30 May 2022 Reich’s offense is designed to scheme guys open and give them room to run. Joel A. Erickson, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2022 Reich’s offense is designed to scheme guys open and give them room to run. Joel A. Erickson, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2022 Reich’s offense is designed to scheme guys open and give them room to run. Joel A. Erickson, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2022 Meanwhile, Bakary keeps trying to get them out of there, teaming up with a fellow tirailleur, Salif (Bamar Kane), to scheme and steal his way to freedom. Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 May 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Latin schemat-, schema arrangement, figure, from Greek schēmat-, schēma, from echein to have, hold, be in (such) a condition; akin to Old English sige victory, Sanskrit sahate he prevails