From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishplanplan1 /plæn/ ●●● S1 W1 noun [countable] 1 intentionPLAN something you have decided to do His plan is to get a degree in economics and then work abroad for a year. Do you have any plans for the weekend? There’s been a change of plan – we’re not going to Ibiza after all.the best plan British English (=the best course of action) Your best plan would be to take a taxi.2 method/arrangementPLAN a set of actions for achieving something in the future, especially a set of actions that has been considered carefully and in detailplan for The chairman outlined the company’s plans for achieving a 10% growth in sales.plan to do something There are plans to turn the site of the factory into a park.3 mapDESIGN a drawing similar to a map, showing roads, towns, and buildingsplan of a street plan of London4 drawing a) technical a drawing of a building, room, or machine as it would be seen from above, showing the shape, size, and position of the walls, windows, and doors → elevation(4), section1(7), ground plan(1) b) DESIGNa drawing that shows exactly how something will be arranged I have to organise a seating plan for the dinner.5 → plan A, Plan A6 → plan B, Plan BCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: something you have decided to doverbshave plansI have no plans to retire yet.change your plansWe had to change our plans at the last minute.abandon/give up your plansThe city authorities have abandoned their plans to host the Super Bowl.cancel your plansThe weather got worse, and we had to cancel our plans to have the party outdoors.shelve a plan (=cancel your plan, although you may do it later)The plan had to be shelved because of lack of money.phrasesa change of planThe day before my flight, my boss phoned and said there’d been a change of plan.adjectivessomebody’s immediate plans (=what they are going to do next)So what are your immediate plans after graduation?the best plan British English (=the best thing to do)I think the best plan is to take the train. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: a set of actions for achieving something in the future, especially a set of actions that has been considered carefully and in detailverbshave a planDon’t worry – I have a plan.make plans (=prepare for something)Mary has been busy making plans for her wedding.come up with a plan (=think of a plan)The chairman must come up with a plan to get the club back on its feet.devise/formulate/draw up a plan (=make a detailed plan, especially after considering something carefully)He devised a daring plan to steal two million dollars.The company has already drawn up plans to develop the site.carry out a plan (=do what has been planned) The bombers were arrested by the security forces before they could carry out their plans.keep to/stick to a planWe’re sticking to our original plan.abandon/scrap a plan (=decide not to continue with it)The plan was scrapped because it was too expensive.announce/unveil a plan (=officially tell people about it)The government unveiled its plans for a shake-up of the health system.approve a planThe plan was approved at a board meeting on 24 December.reject a planThe plan was rejected on the grounds that it would cost too much money.outline a plan (=describe it in a general way)They listened as he outlined his plan.implement a plan formal (=to do what has been agreed as part of an official plan)To implement its plans, the company has entered into a partnership with another software developer.shelve a plan (=not continue with it, although you might continue with it later)The plans will be shelved until an alternative access to the site can be found.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + planambitiousThe plan was very ambitious, but it worked.detailedThe generals drew up detailed plans for the invasion. cunning/clever/ingeniousThey devised a cunning plan to get back their money.The gang devised a cunning plan to rob the bank.a five-year/ten-year etc planUnesco has a 25-year plan to provide basic education to all.a grand plan (=a plan that involves doing a lot of things in order to achieve something big)Marrying the countess was all part of his grand plan.a master plan (=a detailed plan for dealing with a complicated situation)The governors came up with a master plan for saving the school.a business planWe’ve developed a business plan to take over the company.a peace planBoth sides have agreed to implement the UN peace plan.a rescue plan (=a plan for saving a company, economy etc)Which rescue plan offers the company the best prospects of survival?an action planMy accountant developed a detailed action plan with specific targets.phrasesgo according to plan (=happen in the way that was arranged)If everything goes according to plan, we’ll finish in January.a plan of actionMinisters are discussing a plan of action to deal with the crisis.a plan of attack (=a plan to attack or achieve something)At this stage, you go back to the office and work on a plan of attack.a plan of campaign British English (=a plan to achieve something)What we need now is a plan of campaign.COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘do a plan’. Say make a plan. THESAURUS – Meaning 2: a set of actions for achieving something in the future, especially a set of actions that has been considered carefully and in detailplan a set of actions for achieving something in the future, especially a set of actions that has been considered carefully and in detailLeaders outlined a plan to end the fighting.plot/conspiracy a secret plan to do something bad or illegal, made by a group of peopleThere was a plot to assassinate the president.a terrorist conspiracyscheme British English an official plan that is intended to help peopleThe government has introduced a new scheme to help young people find work.strategy a carefully designed plan which is intended to achieve a particular purpose over a long period of timethe company’s business strategyThe government’s economic strategy has been criticized by many experts.We need to develop effective strategies for combating the sale of counterfeit goods.initiative a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving a particular aima peace initiativea major new initiative to tackle street crimepolicy a plan that members of a government, political party, company etc agree on, that states how they intend to deal with a particular subject or problemthe government’s immigration policyIt’s company policy to allow people to work from home.programme British English, program American English a series of activities that a government or organization organizes, which aims to achieve something important and will continue for a long timea five-year programme which will create 2,000 new jobsfederal programs for low-income housing
Examples from the Corpus
plan• Plan A obviously wasn't going to work, so we had to resort to plan B.• NASA has announced plans for a new space mission to Mars.• You can't get a loan to start a new company if you don't have a good business plan.• There are thousands of victims of those home income equity plans.• The school has plans to build a computer centre.• Her plan is to finish her degree and then go and teach in Japan.• the state's highway improvement plan• By January, many people are already making plans for their summer holidays.• After weeks of planning, the big day finally arrived.• Instead they looked at the physical models of the new plant or engineering drawings or plans.• There was an airline strike in India, and all our plans fell through at the last minute.• It is only within the parameters of such an overall plan that a valid science and technology policy can be articulated.• Each executive then presented plans and budgets for their respective departments.• I have to organize a seating plan for the dinner.• But when new owners took it over, they dropped the plan.• In the first year of the plan, the government will pay 30 percent of their monthly payments.• Originally, the plan was to meet at Dave's house, but he's still not home.• Everything went according to plan, and we all crossed the river safely.• Increasing traffic congestion is a major influence on town planning.• The bitter irony was that the whole plan had been her idea right from the start.• No work plan is infallible and changes may be necessary.plan for• The company has a new plan for reorganizing our department.seating plan• Fiona looked at the seating plan and said to meet at table six.• Going out for dinner required that he consider the seating plan, menu, atmosphere, and management of each possible restaurant.• Even now, I can't discuss the seating plan without hyperventilating. planplan2 ●●● S1 W1 verb (planned, planning) 1 [intransitive, transitive]PLAN to think carefully about something you want to do, and decide how and when you will do it He immediately began planning his escape. Talks are planned for next week. The wedding was fine and everything went as planned (=happened the way it had been planned).plan to do something Maria didn’t plan to kill Fiona. It was an accident.plan ahead/plan for the future Now that you’re pregnant you’ll have to plan ahead.2 [transitive]INTEND to intend to do somethingplan to do something He said he planned to write his essay tonight.plan on doing something When do you plan on going to Geneva? The former president is planning a return to politics.3 [transitive]DESIGN to think about something you are going to make, and decide what it will be like SYN design Planning a small garden is often difficult. The system needs to be planned carefully. → plan something ↔ out→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
plan• Don't worry, I have the whole evening planned.• Only 12 percent believed that roads through sites of natural beauty or historical interest should be built as planned.• The burglary had obviously been very carefully planned.• It took them years to plan and build the plaza downtown.• That provision is 9.2 percent. higher than was planned for 1991-92, and the increase is twice as high as inflation.• I think we should plan for about 50 guests.• We're planning for rain because the forecast isn't good.• She started planning her career change after taking an evening class in nutrition.• Sue spent months planning her trip.• Have you planned how you're going to spend your prize money?• The town was originally planned in the 1950s, when there were fewer cars.• We planned the building very carefully with special facilities for the disabled.• Then Guest and Byrd began planning the flight.• The team is still planning the layout of the magazine cover.• She really does plan to move to Los Angeles, become an actress and get married.• The original plan to raise $ 1. 4 million foundered.• But the uncomfortable feeling remained, and to cheer herself up, Grace began to plan what she would wear tomorrow.• It's essential to weigh up all the briefing details in order to plan your tactics and avoid getting blown up.went as planned• The graduation ceremony went exactly as planned.• It all worked out in the end and everything went as planned.• She could have argued that if they went as planned to farm in another country, nobody would know about her past.plan to do something• We plan to do this in cooperation with comrades around the world.• Mr Bernick said he plans to focus on acquisitions as a way to supplement internal growth.• I was planning to get faster.• The madcap motorists plan to see how many Minis they can squeeze on to a ferry.• The Sister Superior at Bartestree says the nuns were already planning to sell up.• Philips plans to ship players, under both its Philips and subsidiary Magnavox labels, late this year.• Disheartened, Santa Anna separated from his large escort and planned to slip through the mountainous country with three attendants.• Already his labour force is 30-strong, and he plans to take on five more craftsmen.From Longman Business Dictionaryplanplan1 /plæn/ verb (planned, planning)1[intransitive, transitive] to think carefully about something you want to do in the future, and decide exactly how you will do itWe’ve been planning this visit for months — you can’t cancel now.The whole operation went exactly as plannedA business mustplan ahead (=make plans for a long time in the future), making use of sales and market forecasts.2[transitive] to intend to do somethingThe company is planning a major investment programme.plan to do somethingThe company plans to spend $739.9 million on capital improvements next year.→ See Verb tableplanplan2 noun [countable]1a set of actions for achieving something in the future, especially one that has been considered carefully and in detailthe government’s five-year economic planplan forThe company’s plans for growth are threatened by their inability to find, keep, and manage key staff.plan to do somethingThe President is working on a plan to turn around the economy (=make the economy successful again).The two companies had considered merging some years earlier, but the plan fell through (=the plan was not completed).If everything goes according to plan (=happens in the way that was arranged), the first stage of the project will be completed by December.2plan B your second plan, which you will use if things do not happen as you expectAlways have a plan B in case your original choice of career does not work out.3something you have decided to do or achieveHis plan is to get a degree in economics and then work abroad for a year.What are your career plans?There’s been a change of plan. The meeting’s on Monday instead of this afternoon.The developer has plans for 625 homes (=intends to build 625 homes) northwest of the airport.4PROPERTYa drawing of a building, room, or machine as it would be seen from above, showing the shape, measurements, position of the walls etca floor-by-floor plan of the three-storey building.5a drawing that shows exactly how something will be arrangedOrigin plan1 (1600-1700) French “drawing of a building at ground level”; partly from Latin planum “level ground”, partly from French planter “to plant” 