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⇱ scheme - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

scheme

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈskiːm/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/skim/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(skēm)

Inflections of 'scheme' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
schemes
v 3rd person singular
scheming
v pres p
schemed
v past
schemed
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
scheme /skim/USA pronunciation   n., v., schemed, schem•ing. 
n. [countable]
  1. a plan of action;
    project or system:a scheme to speed up production.
  2. a dishonest, usually secret plot;
    an intrigue.
  3. a diagram, map, or the like.

v. 
  1. to create (something) as a scheme;
    plot: [~ + object]schemed a way to avoid the work.[no object]went around scheming so much no one trusted him.
schem•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
scheme  (skēm),USA pronunciation n., v., schemed, schem•ing. 
n. 
  1. a plan, design, or program of action to be followed;
    project.
  2. an underhand plot;
    intrigue.
  3. a visionary or impractical project.
  4. a body or system of related doctrines, theories, etc.:a scheme of philosophy.
  5. any system of correlated things, parts, etc., or the manner of its arrangement.
  6. a plan, program, or policy officially adopted and followed, as by a government or business:The company's pension scheme is very successful.
  7. an analytical or tabular statement.
  8. a diagram, map, or the like.
  9. an astrological diagram of the heavens.

v.t. 
  1. to devise as a scheme;
    plan;
    plot;
    contrive.

v.i. 
  1. to lay schemes;
    devise plans;
    plot.
  • Greek schêma form, figure
  • Medieval Latin schēma (stem schēmat-)
  • 1545–55
scheme′less, adj. 
schem′er, n. 
    1. 6. See plan. 2. stratagem, cabal, conspiracy. 5. pattern, schema. 10. See plot 1.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
scheme /skiːm/ n
  1. a systematic plan for a course of action
  2. a systematic arrangement of correlated parts; system
  3. a secret plot
  4. a visionary or unrealizable project
  5. a chart, diagram, or outline
  6. an astrological diagram giving the aspects of celestial bodies at a particular time
  7. chiefly Brit a plan formally adopted by a commercial enterprise or governmental body, as for pensions, etc
  8. chiefly Scot an area of housing that is laid out esp by a local authority; estate
 vb
  1. (transitive) to devise a system for
  2. to form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner
Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin schema, from Greek skhēma formˈschemer n
'scheme' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: a [pay, patient, contribution, pension] scheme, scheme against the [politicians, government, company], a [cunning, clever, fair, new, practical] scheme, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "scheme" in the title:

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approach/scheme
asked that this scheme <should> be stopped
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certainly not one justifying any loss of cohesion in the general scheme
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Do not scheme for physical pleasure.
eclectic combination four-element scheme
figure in the scheme of things
flagship scheme
found that <the> administration of the scheme
from every deep laid scheme, for our ruin
He used a clever scheme to trick people into giving him money.
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