plan

An idea or set of decisions about what you will do to reach a goal.

• We need a plan.
• Our holiday plans changed yesterday.
• What is your plan for tomorrow?

How to use it: a plan for something (We need a plan for the weekend.); a plan to do something (She has a plan to save money.)

Similar words: scheme, strategy

Common phrases: make a plan, plan for something, plan to do

A set of things you decide to do to achieve something.

• What is your plan?
• We changed our plans because of the rain.
• Their plan is to save enough money for a house.

How to use it: plan for something (We need a plan for the weekend.); plan to do something (Her plan to open a cafe needs more funding.)

Similar words: strategy, scheme

Common phrases: make a plan, plan for something, business plan

A drawing that shows how a building, place, or machine is arranged or will be made.

• The architect showed us the plan.
• These plans include a new bridge.
• Check the measurements on the plan before building.

Similar words: drawing, blueprint

Common phrases: building plan, draw a plan, detailed plan

A drawing showing a building or floor from above, including its rooms and walls.

• The plan shows three bedrooms.
• We compared the floor plans of both apartments.
• Seen in plan, the house forms a square.

Similar words: floor plan

Common phrases: floor plan, in plan, plan view

If you do this, you decide in advance what to do and how to do it.

• Let us plan our trip.
• She planned the meeting carefully.
• Do you always plan ahead?

How to use it: plan something for something (We planned the party for Saturday.)

Similar words: arrange, organize

Common phrases: plan a trip, plan ahead, plan something carefully

To intend to do something in the future.

• I plan to go tomorrow.
• She had planned to retire this year.
• Are you planning on staying here?

How to use it: plan to do something (I plan to visit my aunt tomorrow.); plan on doing something (We plan on staying for a week.)

Similar words: intend, mean

Common phrases: plan to leave, plan on something, plan to stay

To decide how a building or machine should be made or arranged.

• An architect will plan the house.
• They planned a garden with wide paths.
• The engineer planned the machine to use less energy.

Similar words: design

Common phrases: plan a building, plan a garden, plan the layout