Meaning & use
programme
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Meanings
nouncountable
A planned set of activities or steps arranged to reach a particular goal, such as a course of study or a public scheme.
Grammar: Has a plural: training programmes. Often followed by to or for before a purpose.
Patterns
- a programme of something
- a programme to do something
- a programme for something
The council launched a programme to plant ten thousand trees.
She enrolled on a two-year nursing programme.
The government's vaccination programme reached every village by spring.
nouncountableBritish
A single broadcast show on radio or television.
Grammar: Typically British; American English says show or program.
Patterns
- a programme about something
- watch a programme
We watched a programme about deep-sea fish last night.
The radio programme is on every Sunday morning.
That cooking programme has run for twenty years.
nouncountable
A printed leaflet listing the performers, order of items or schedule for an event such as a play or concert.
Grammar: Handed out at the event: buy a programme at the door.
Patterns
- in the programme
- a theatre programme
The cast list was printed in the programme.
I kept the concert programme as a souvenir.
Check the programme to see when the second act begins.
verbtransitive
To arrange or set a device or system to perform certain actions at a given time or in a given way.
Grammar: Takes an object: programme the heating. In computing the verb is spelled program in British English too.
Patterns
- programme something to do something
He programmed the heating to come on at six.
She programmed the washing machine for a quick wash.
Word forms
| plural | programmes |
|---|---|
| third person singular | programmes |
| past tense | programmed |
| -ing form | programming |
Common combinations
- training programme
- The company runs a six-week training programme for new staff.
- television programme
- It was the most watched television programme of the year.
- launch a programme
- The charity will launch a programme for homeless youth next month.
- exchange programme
- She spent a term in Spain on an exchange programme.
- programme of reforms
- The minister announced a programme of reforms to the exam system.
Synonyms and how they differ
- scheme
- Scheme in British English suggests an organized plan, often official, but can sound dubious when it hints at trickery; programme is more neutral.
- schedule
- A schedule gives times and order, whereas a programme also implies a purpose or set of activities.
- show
- Show is the everyday word for a broadcast, while programme sounds slightly more formal and British.
- curriculum
- A curriculum is the content of a course of study, whereas a programme can be the whole structure of a course including its aims.
Word family
- programmer noun
- a person who writes computer code
- programming noun
- the activity of writing code, or the content a broadcaster schedules
- programmable adjective
- able to be set to perform tasks automatically
- programmatic adjective
- relating to a programme of action or to code
Commonly confused: programme or program?
programme vs program
Program is the American spelling for most senses and the standard spelling everywhere for computer software.
Practice
Which sentence uses the British spelling in a correct everyday context?
Choose one answer.
Programme is the British spelling for a broadcast show. Computer software is a program in both varieties, the verb needs a past form, and an is not used before a plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “programme”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.