planning

verb

Definition of planningnext
present participle of plan
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of planning After originally planning to stay on anyway, Alice has decided to seek other opportunities and would like a letter of recommendation after sticking around for Ted’s transition period. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026 When my wife and I were planning a quick summer getaway with our two teenage daughters, heading to the desert was an easy choice. — Mike Avila, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026 Wisconsin Democrats are planning a statewide unity tour immediately after Tuesday’s gubernatorial primary as the party seeks to turn the page on a chaotic and ideologically divisive contest, according to Politico. — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2026 Negotiations will run alongside further planning over the coming weeks. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026 The departure comes as OpenAI is planning for an initial public offering that could value the San Francisco company at more than $1 trillion. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026 Paredes experienced that firsthand while planning a sports-intensive trip with his son involving seven cities, multiple games, approximately 14 flights and changing weather conditions. — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 The unexpected weekend getaway While planning ahead is crucial during the busy summer months, some of the best memories come from those spur-of-the-moment trips. — Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026 The pachinko parlor next door was planning to expand and was trying to buy this house on favorable terms. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for planning
  1. preparing
  2. intending
  3. designing
  4. contemplating
  5. organizing
  6. going
  7. arranging
  8. aiming
Verb
  • Making this show is a combination of preparing for something—and then preparing for things to go another way completely.
    — Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Aug. 2026
  • One potential recruit was preparing to graduate and was interested in becoming a diesel mechanic in the military.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of preparing
Verb
  • Wayne Adams, who has been a vocal supporter of keeping the Sheriff’s Office in Deerfield Beach, announced his candidacy for the Deerfield Beach City Commission five months ago, intending to replace Commissioner Ben Preston.
    — Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Prosecutors and the victims’ relatives said Sandoval broke into the Lancaster home intending to target his former partner, who wasn’t home.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of intending
Verb
  • As early as the 1920s, Coco Chanel patronized Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes company, famously designing the costumes for Le Train Bleu, choreographed by Bronislava Nijinska and premiered in 1924.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than starting with a lot and designing around it, his team and Pininfarina spent about two years creating the house first, down to the furniture, millwork, landscaping, and pool.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of designing
Verb
  • In Florida, Tampa officials are also contemplating expanding its youth curfew.
    — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • With rates here already around 4% and with the Federal Reserve contemplating a rate hike later in 2026, this account could soon be even more profitable for savers.
    — Matt Richardson, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of contemplating
Verb
  • His campaign spent the summer ramping up fundraising, staff and organizing infrastructure.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Others are organizing underground schools to fill gaps in education and collaborating closely with Afghans in exile to prepare legal action against the Taliban’s abuses.
    — Rina Amiri, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of organizing
Verb
  • Remember that the most amount of benefit occurs when going from none or little exercise to just a bit more.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The new order also puts a focus on Latino voters, with Nevada going second in the line-up, after Democrats lost ground with the key demographic in the 2024 presidential election.
    — Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of going
Verb
  • After retiring from working in 2019, Norris enjoyed growing and arranging flowers from her yard.
    — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The morning of the wedding could be spent escaping the madness for a moment of peace among the trees, or arranging a pre-wedding morning coffee overlooking the estate.
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of arranging
Verb
  • Ukraine says Russia is scaling up its production of ballistic missiles, aiming to exploit Kyiv's critical shortage of Patriot air defense interceptors that can stop them.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • If insurance falls short, the third line involves strategic litigation defense, aiming to settle cases early to minimize costs and uncertainty.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of aiming

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Planning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/planning. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on planning

Nglish: Translation of planning for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about planning

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