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plan

noun · verb

Simple meaning

A set of intended actions, usually mutually related, through which one expects to achieve a goal.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

plan
US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈplæn

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. A set of intended actions, usually mutually related, through which one expects to achieve a goal.

  2. A method; a way of procedure; a custom.

  3. A two-dimensional drawing of a building as seen from above with obscuring or irrelevant details such as roof removed, or of a floor of a building, revealing the internal layout; as distinct from the elevation.

  4. A subscription to a service.

  5. us

    A particular standardized examination taken by high-school students.

verb

  1. Make a design of; plan out in systematic, often graphic form

  2. intransitive

    To intend.

  3. transitive

    To design (a building, machine, etc.).

  4. transitive

    To create a plan for.

  5. Make or work out a plan for; devise

    “He is planning a trip with his family.”

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
A1 · Beginner
Frequency
Very Common
Typical Use
Everyday English

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: A set of intended actions, usually mutually related, through which one expects to achieve a goal.

Used this way, plan is a reasonably familiar word with a clearly warm, approving pull. It quietly approves while staying precise.

Emotional tone
Positive
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Gentle
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
Successful and accomplished
Usage feel
Precise and approving

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use plan

  • “The plans for City Hall were on file.”noun
  • “He plans to be in graduate school next year.”verb

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Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

action planmaster planbusiness planpension planyear plandevelopment plangeneral planoriginal plan

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Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Inflected forms

Grammatical variations of the same word.

  • planningnounInflected form

    An act of formulating a program for a definite course of action.

  • plannedadjectiveInflected form

    Designed or carried out according to a plan.

  • plannernounInflected form

    A person who makes plans.

  • planernounInflected form

    A power tool for smoothing or shaping wood.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

  • planning commissionnounCompound term

    A commission delegated to propose plans for future activities and developments.

  • planned communitynounCompound term

    A residential district that is planned for a certain class of residents.

  • plan of attacknounCompound term

    Ideas or actions intended to deal with a problem or situation.

  • planning boardnounCompound term

    A board appointed to advise the chief administrator.

  • planing machinenounCompound term

    A power tool for smoothing or shaping wood.

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.