A plan is a detailed idea or set of steps for accomplishing something in the future. When you make a plan, you think ahead about what you want to achieve and how you'll get there. You might plan a birthday party by deciding on the guest list, choosing games, and picking a date. An architect creates plans (detailed drawings) showing exactly how a building should be constructed. A general develops battle plans. A teacher writes lesson plans outlining what students will learn each day.

Good plans consider potential problems and prepare for them. If you're planning a picnic, you might check the weather forecast and have a backup indoor location ready. Plans can be simple (planning to finish homework before dinner) or complex (planning a cross-country road trip with multiple stops).

The word also appears in common phrases. When something goes wrong, people say the plan went awry or didn't go according to plan. When you do something without preparation, you're acting without a plan. Sometimes people say they're making it up as they go, meaning they have no plan at all.

Even the best plans sometimes need adjusting when unexpected situations arise.