plan

The word “plan” means a set of intended actions worked out in advance to achieve a goal. In plain terms, a worked-out set of steps to reach a goal, or a diagram showing how something is laid out.

“Plan” is pronounced plan (/plæn/ in IPA).

Here is “plan” used in a sentence: “They came up with a plan to pay off their debt within two years.”

Words with a similar meaning to “plan” include blueprint.

Depending on how it is used, “plan” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “plan” comes from Latin. From French plan, "flat surface, ground plot," from Latin planus, "flat" — related to "plane" and "plain.".

“Plan” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Plan” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a set of intended actions worked out in advance to achieve a goal.

A goal is the result you want to reach; a plan is the set of steps you work out in advance to get there. The goal is the destination, the plan is the route. You can hold a goal without a plan, but a plan only makes sense once a goal exists to aim at.

Plans come in many forms depending on scope and purpose. Common ones include business plans, financial or budget plans, strategic and action plans, lesson plans, project plans, and everyday to-do plans. Architects and designers also use 'plan' for a scale drawing seen from directly above, such as a floor plan.

A weekend trip is a simple example: you decide the destination, book transport and a hotel, list what to pack, and set times to leave and return. Each of those intended, ordered actions, worked out ahead of the trip rather than on the day, together forms the plan.

A plan turns a vague intention into concrete, ordered steps, so you know what to do next and can spot problems before they arise. It helps you use time and resources well, coordinate with other people, and measure progress along the way. Without one, effort is easily wasted, duplicated, or misdirected.