Meaning & use
plan
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Meanings
nouncountable
A set of steps or ideas you have thought out ahead of time for reaching a goal or handling a situation.
Grammar: Countable: a plan, several plans; often followed by to or for.
Patterns
- a plan to do something
- a plan for something
- make a plan
Our plan is to leave at dawn and avoid the traffic.
She has a clear plan for paying off her loans.
The team presented a new plan for the school fundraiser.
nounusually plural
Something you intend to do, such as how you want to spend a particular period.
Grammar: Usually plural in this sense: Do you have plans tonight?
Patterns
- plans for something
- have plans
I can't come on Saturday because I already have plans.
What are your plans for the summer?
They changed their plans when the storm warning came.
nouncountable
A drawing that shows the layout of a building, room or area as seen from above.
Grammar: Countable and often used with of: a plan of the house.
Patterns
- a plan of something
- a floor plan
The architect unrolled a plan of the new library.
Check the floor plan to see where the exits are.
The city published a plan of the park showing all the paths.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To decide in detail what you will do and how, before you do it.
Grammar: Can take an object (plan a trip) or stand alone (plan ahead); plan to + verb is common.
Patterns
- plan to do something
- plan something
- plan for something
- plan on doing something
We plan to repaint the kitchen next month.
He spent weeks planning the surprise party.
It pays to plan ahead when traveling with young children.
Word forms
| plural | plans |
|---|---|
| third person singular | plans |
| past tense | planned |
| past participle | planned |
| -ing form | planning |
Common combinations
- draw up a plan
- The committee will draw up a plan before the vote.
- stick to the plan
- If we stick to the plan, we will finish by noon.
- backup plan
- Always keep a backup plan in case the flight is canceled.
- go according to plan
- Nothing went according to plan on the first day.
- plan ahead
- Book early and plan ahead if you want a good seat.
- plan to do something
- I plan to read more this year.
Synonyms and how they differ
- scheme
- Scheme can suggest a clever or secretive plan and sometimes a dishonest one, while plan is neutral.
- strategy
- Strategy is a broad approach aimed at a long-term goal, whereas a plan can be a short, concrete list of steps.
- intend
- As a verb alternative, intend focuses on what you have in mind, while plan implies you have worked out the details.
- blueprint
- Blueprint stresses a detailed model to follow, often for building or reform, and is more formal than plan.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: plan or plane?
plan vs plane
A plane is an aircraft or a flat surface; a plan is an arrangement of steps or a layout drawing.
Practice
We ____ to visit my aunt in Dublin next spring.
Choose one answer.
After the subject we, the base verb plan fits the simple present with to-infinitive. Planning lacks a helping verb, and planned on would need an -ing verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “plan”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.