schedule
Americannoun
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a plan of procedure, usually written, for a proposed objective, especially with reference to the sequence of and time allotted for each item or operation necessary to its completion.
The schedule allows three weeks for this stage.
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a series of things to be done or of events to occur at or during a particular time or period.
He always has a full schedule.
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a timetable.
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a written or printed statement of details, often in classified or tabular form, especially one forming an appendix or explanatory addition to another document.
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Obsolete. a written paper.
noun
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a plan of procedure for a project, allotting the work to be done and the time for it
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a list of items
a schedule of fixed prices
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a list of times, esp of arrivals and departures; timetable
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a list of tasks to be performed, esp within a set period
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law a list or inventory, usually supplementary to a contract, will, etc
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at the expected or planned time
verb
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to make a schedule of or place in a schedule
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to plan to occur at a certain time
Synonym Usage
See list 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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schedulernoun
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subschedulenoun
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prescheduleverb (used with object)
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schedularadjective
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unscheduledadjective
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well-scheduledadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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schedulesimple
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schedulessimple
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have scheduledperfect
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has scheduledperfect
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am schedulingprogressive
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are schedulingprogressive
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is schedulingprogressive
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have been schedulingperfect progressive
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has been schedulingperfect progressive
Past
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scheduledsimple
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had scheduledperfect
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was schedulingprogressive
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were schedulingprogressive
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had been schedulingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of schedule
First recorded in 1350–1400; from Late Latin schedula, equivalent to Latin sched(a) “leaf of paper” + -ula noun suffix ( see -ule); replacing Middle English cedule, sedule, from Middle French, from Late Latin, as above
Explanation
A schedule is a plan of things to be done and the time when they will be done. It is the thing you write down in your planner. If you're a student, you probably have your class schedule memorized within the first few weeks of school. This noun derives from Middle English sedule "slip of parchment or paper, note," from Late Latin schedula, from scheda "a strip of papyrus," from Greek schida "a splinter of wood." The modern spelling schedule did not become established until the mid 17th century. And the current American pronunciation, patterned on words such as scheme and school, was not in use until the 19th century.
Vocabulary lists containing schedule
Words Whose Pronunciation Has Changed Over Time
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List 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The schedule is faster than it appeared just days ago.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
ServiceNow also showed strong AI traction as the company’s AI annual contract value surpassed $1 billion, putting the company ahead of schedule to beat its year-end target of $1.5 billion.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
"With regular helps, there is a fixed schedule and I have to adjust my routine around their availability," she told AFP.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
They did - just - as Borthwick's side completed their "brutal" summer schedule, which included more than 25,000 miles of travel.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
I don’t know any of the teachers, so how am I supposed to know if this is a good schedule or a bad one?
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
Mathematical models can help researchers predict how different treatment schedules may influence which cancer cells remain and how quickly they multiply.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
Calendar-year schedules would benefit students who want to enter the workforce sooner.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
Thinking back on the last two years of his life full of album releases, filming schedules and tour dates, Finn Wolfhard requires squint-inducing concentration to keep it all straight.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
Republican Representative Vern Buchanan of Florida, who introduced the bill in January 2025, said on Tuesday that clock changes disrupt schedules "for no good reason".
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
In the lobby, Dr. Margot hands out schedules and maps.
From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins
Honeywell Aerospace is scheduled to report its second-quarter results on a standalone basis on Aug. 5.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
The Dodgers are scheduled to visit the White House on Thursday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
TTM is scheduled to announce its second-quarter results on Aug. 5.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
The event was originally scheduled for March, but the Australian state of Victoria pulled out as hosts in 2023.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
The talent show is scheduled for Thursday night, the award presentation for Friday morning.
From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein
“The process, the calibration, the persistent engineering, the kinematic simulation, the temperature, all that scheduling is kind of the same at this level of product,” Nicolson said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
Ian Williamson, dean of the business school, said the new federal policy played a role in the decision as well as student scheduling preferences.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
These are days when you knock out a bunch of important personal tasks that you’ve been putting off, like scheduling key appointments, going for your annual physical and paying your bills.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
As well as a shorter season, players have asked for smarter scheduling at tournaments - including fewer late-night finishes.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
Before I traveled, staffers drove the routes I’d take to venues, timing my transit down to the minute, scheduling my bathroom breaks in advance.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.