1
as in preparing
to work out the details of (something) in advance
we planned the school dance down to the smallest detail
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in intending
to have in mind as a purpose or goal
I plan to have a party for my birthday, even if I have to throw it myself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of planning
The hospitality company is planning to open the Residences at the Detroit Edition, its first-ever residential offering in the Midwest, by next year.
—
Tori Latham, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent projects have included lines, water storage and wells that local municipalities are planning to build, upgrade or replace.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 31 Mar. 2026
For homeowners planning renovations, Broward County now offers a model worth celebrating.
—Ian Cohen, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Despite those risks, women riders in South Florida are becoming more visible on the motorcycle scene, planning their own meetups, safety briefings and events across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
—Brenda Miranda, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for planning
Tori Latham, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent projects have included lines, water storage and wells that local municipalities are planning to build, upgrade or replace.
—Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 31 Mar. 2026
For homeowners planning renovations, Broward County now offers a model worth celebrating.
—Ian Cohen, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
Despite those risks, women riders in South Florida are becoming more visible on the motorcycle scene, planning their own meetups, safety briefings and events across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
—Brenda Miranda, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for planning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for planning
Verb
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The process involved preparing documents showing proof of employment or family ties that signal an applicant isn’t likely to overstay their visa.—
Albert Samaha,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
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In the face of this uncertainty, companies and other organizations are preparing for a world in which the conflict — and subsequent jolt to crude prices — becomes a long-term challenge, affecting everything from travel planning to mail delivery.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tucker and her then-boyfriend, Daniel Ryan Garrett, broke into Dean’s apartment intending to steal motorcycle parts.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
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On July 16, 1999, Kennedy sat in the pilot’s seat of his single-engine plane, intending to drop off sister-in-law Lauren in Martha's Vineyard before continuing to Hyannis Port with his wife for cousin Rory Kennedy's wedding.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Eco effort Architects made sure to prioritize sustainability when designing this hotel, favoring energy-efficient technologies and geothermal energy wherever possible.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
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Career stuff aside, this aspect is also ideal for designing (or analyzing) a budget.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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For those who have the option, more are contemplating walking, cycling, carpooling or catching the bus or train to get some relief.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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Choosing among loud, louder and loudest shirts, then contemplating whether to go with jorts or florts (don’t ask) and selecting the appropriate socks and crocs, Black finally is ready to go until Sarah Sherman shows up to spoil things.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Storms organizing to our west late Wednesday evening move into North Texas overnight.—
Michael Autovino,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Human beings have built homes in many different environments, settling the area and organizing it into units such as cities, states, regions, and countries, each with its own points of interest.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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To meet his growing costs, Meraj had increased the price of a cup of tea from ten rupees to fifteen, a fifty-per-cent rise (in New York terms, like a cup of drip coffee going from just shy of four dollars to nearly six overnight).—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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McDowell is with 916 Community Alliance, going inside underserved community classrooms to help keep the peace.—
Steve Large,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Long before Manhattan's iconic street grid took shape, an English widow laid the groundwork for a settlement in Brooklyn, arranging a small village in what would become the United States into one of the first grid patterns.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
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But arranging spheres becomes significantly more complex in higher dimensions, which allow for more arrangements and symmetries.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In Minnesota, a man was sentenced to life in prison for plotting the murder of a real estate agent in part by luring her to a bogus showing.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
29 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, Cam is quietly plotting to reclaim his post, turning every misstep into ammunition.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Planning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/planning. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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