Definition

1. Noun:
   • The cognitive process of thinking about future actions and events: "Planning" refers to the mental activity of considering what to do and how to do it in anticipation of future situations.
   • The act of creating detailed schemes or methods: It denotes the process of developing a systematic, often written, arrangement of steps to achieve a goal.
   • The process of designing layouts or structures: In specific contexts, "planning" involves creating detailed designs or blueprints for projects like buildings, cities, or events.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Careful planning is essential for the success of any major project.
  • Urban planning helps create functional and attractive cities.
  • Her planning for the event was meticulous and left nothing to chance.

Advanced Usage

• "to do some planning": to engage in the activity of making plans.
  • We need to do some planning before we start the renovation.
• "in the planning stage": currently being planned, not yet executed.
  • The new park is still in the planning stage.
• "strategic planning": the process of defining a strategy or direction and making decisions on allocating resources to pursue this strategy.
  • The company's annual retreat is dedicated to strategic planning.

Variants and Related Words

• Plan (n/v): A detailed proposal for doing or achieving something (n); to decide on and arrange in advance (v).
  • We need a solid plan. / Let's plan our route.
• Planner (n): A person who makes plans or a book/software used for organizing schedules.
  • She is a talented event planner.
• Preplanning (n): Planning that occurs before the main planning activity.
  • The preplanning phase involves initial research and goal-setting.

Synonyms

• Preparation: The action or process of making ready or being made ready for use.
• Organization: The action of organizing something in a structured way.
• Designing: The process of creating a plan or convention for the construction of an object or system.

Related Phrases

• Family planning: The practice of controlling the number of children in a family and the intervals between their births.
  • Access to family planning services is a basic health right.
• Financial planning: The process of framing financial policies in relation to procurement, investment, and administration of funds.
  • They sought professional advice for their financial planning.
• Contingency planning: The process of preparing alternative courses of action to be used if the primary plan fails.
  • Good contingency planning saved the project when the main supplier failed.

Noun

1. the cognitive process of thinking about what you will do in the event of something happening
   • his planning for retirement was hindered by several uncertainties
2. the act or process of drawing up plans or layouts for some project or enterprise
3. an act of formulating a program for a definite course of action
   • the planning was more fun than the trip itself