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
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
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
Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2025
Many Itasca residents demonstrated against the plan at rallies and local meetings.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2025
The Trump administration is planning a June 14 military parade through the streets of Washington, D.C., to mark the president’s 79th birthday.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plan
Noun
Rouse and fellow community leaders hatched a plan to recreate a stagecoach station that had served the town in the late 1800s when the area was a stop on the line running between Leavenworth, Kansas and Pike’s Peak in Colorado.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2025
Many Itasca residents demonstrated against the plan at rallies and local meetings.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
Verb
Developers are planning to break ground later this year on a 237-unit apartment building in Deerfield Beach, bringing activity to a mostly vacant lot whose southern tip is home to a two-story office building on the northwest corner of Federal Highway and Northwest Second Street.
—Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2025
The Trump administration is planning a June 14 military parade through the streets of Washington, D.C., to mark the president’s 79th birthday.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plan
Noun
-
Through countless films, TV series, Amblin events, awards campaigns and our public relations strategy—this is where Marvin came alive.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Yet most of the examples cited, including McKiernan’s ouster, stemmed from differing opinions on military strategy or questions of competence—not differing ideologies.—
Risa Brooks,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Be open to learning from experience, from customers and from the market itself, and adjust your goals, personality and identity as necessary.—
Sabine Leveiller,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
-
The second of those was goal number two, another type of move that a back five is set up to defend against.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The news broke as the Kings were preparing to play the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
This groundbreaking initiative not only prepares dogs to change lives, but also aims to transform the inmates themselves.—
Marc Malkin,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
And, President Trump intends to scale back monies for state and local governments while pushing more costs on states and cities.—
Eric J. Gertler,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2025
-
While the Senate spending cuts are set at just around $4 billion, the House intends to cut at least $1.5 trillion.—
Claudia Grisales,
NPR,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The Power Of Brand Vulnerability Val Kilmer’s trajectory in the 2010s and 2020s serves as a compelling blueprint for legacy brands navigating reinvention in real time.—
Jeetendr Sehdev,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
-
The Heritage Foundation is widely known for creating Project 2025, a 900-page Christian nationalist blueprint for the federal government with aims of virtually eliminating LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights.—
James Factora,
Them.,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Gemini Shuhua Xiong Mercury Retrograde Ends in Pisces on April 7: Rewrite the narrative around purpose.—
Colin Bedell,
Them.,
3 Apr. 2025
-
The remote Norwegian territories, both in the Arctic Ocean, are often mentioned together because of their geographical proximity and the fact that they are collectively designated by the International Organization for Standardization (for statistical purposes).—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Photograph: Output Along with new AR/VR and mixed-reality applications, HDMI 2.2’s advanced bandwidth is designed to enhance commercial technologies like medical imaging, and potentially even next-gen movie, game, and TV production.—
Ryan Waniata,
Wired News,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Known for: Its minimalist Scandinavian design aesthetic that is designed to transcend seasonal trends.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
While contemplating his former love and his future as a father, Massey conjures up the apparition of his beloved Catherine.—
Claire Franken,
TVLine,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Boasberg has been contemplating whether to hold any administration officials in contempt of court for ignoring his orders last month to turn around planes that were carrying the deportees to El Salvador.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plan. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share