Phrase guide

game plan

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Any strategy devised to reach a given objective.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • So what is the game plan? We need to get everyone out of this alive, and I am clueless.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

(sports) a plan for achieving an objective in some sport

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: scheme, strategy

3

noun

Meaning 3

(figurative) a carefully thought out strategy for achieving an objective in war or politics or business or personal affairs

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • newscasters speculated about the President's game plan for an invasion

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: scheme, strategy

History

Etymology

From the strategies used in sports.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: suunnitelma — strategy
  • French: stratégie — strategy
  • French: plan d'action — strategy
  • Polish: plan gry — strategy
  • Telugu: ఎత్తుగడ (ettugaḍa) — strategy