Program
ˈprəʊɡræm
Definitions
4 meaningsA planned sequence of events or activities.
ˈprəʊɡræm
A planned series of future events or performances.
The TV program started at 8 PM.
💡 Simply: Imagine a schedule, like when you plan a day or a party. The program is the plan!
👶 For kids: A plan for what's going to happen, like a schedule for a play or a day.
More Examples
The school offers a wide variety of academic programs.
We enjoyed the exciting program of events at the festival.
How It's Used
"The concert program lists all the songs the band will play."
"The school's program includes a variety of courses and activities."
A set of instructions that a computer follows to perform a specific task.
ˈprəʊɡræm
A set of coded instructions for a computer.
I need to debug my program.
💡 Simply: It's like giving a computer a set of instructions so it can do something, like open a game or show you a picture.
👶 For kids: Instructions for a computer, like a recipe for making cookies, but for the computer.
More Examples
This application is a complex program.
The company developed its own in-house programming.
How It's Used
"The software relies on several different programs to run effectively."
"A programmer writes and debugs computer programs."
To write or provide a set of instructions for a computer or other device.
prəˈʊɡræm
To provide (a computer or other device) with a program.
The engineer programmed the robot to perform specific tasks.
💡 Simply: To give a computer instructions so it knows what to do, like telling it 'open this app' or 'show this picture'.
👶 For kids: To tell a computer what to do, like giving it a set of instructions.
More Examples
We need to program the device to record the data.
She spent hours programming the new software.
How It's Used
"The engineer programmed the robot to perform a task."
"The technicians programmed the new smart appliances."
To arrange or schedule an activity or a series of events.
prəˈʊɡræm
To arrange or schedule (an event or activity).
The television station programmed a variety of shows for the new season.
💡 Simply: To plan the order of events or shows. Like making a schedule for a day full of things to do.
👶 For kids: To plan what's going to happen and when, like making a schedule for playtime and dinner.
More Examples
The concert was programmed for the following night.
The museum is programmed to open on Saturday.
How It's Used
"The event organizers programmed the conference schedule to include interactive sessions."
"The television station programmed a special series of documentaries."
Synonyms
Agenda
Calendar
Itinerary
Plan
Application
Code
Configure
Develop
Instruct
Arrange
Organize
Idioms & expressions
computer program
A set of instructions for a computer.
"The user installed a new computer program."
programming language
A formal language used to write computer programs.
"Java is a popular programming language."
From French *programme*, from Greek *prógramma* ('written public notice'), from *prographein* ('to write before'), from *pro-* ('before') + *graphein* ('to write').
The use of "program" to describe planned events emerged in the 18th century, while its use in the context of computer instructions developed in the 20th century.
Memory tip
Think of a roadmap or itinerary.