program

1 of 2

noun

pro·​gram ˈprō-ˌgram How to pronounce program (audio) -grəm How to pronounce program (audio)
1
[Late Latin programma, from Greek] : a public notice
2
a
: a brief usually printed outline of the order to be followed, of the features to be presented, and the persons participating (as in a public performance)
b
: the performance of a program
especially : a performance broadcast on radio or television
3
: a plan or system under which action may be taken toward a goal
4
5
6
a
: a sequence of coded instructions that can be inserted into a mechanism (such as a computer)
b
dated : a complete plan for solving a problem by the use of a mechanism (such as a computer) that includes both instructions to be inserted into the mechanism and plans for human activities such as interpreting output
c
: the genes or sequences of DNA or RNA that are part of an organism or cell and encode or determine a process, trait, or behavior
… a mouse in which a tiny but crucial bit of the genetic program has been eliminated.Bruce Fellman
also : a process, trait, or behavior determined by or as if by the genetic material of an organism
Orb webs are marvels of geometry and construction. They are built according to a complex behavioral program, which is highly flexible in some respects and very precise in others. Michael H. Robinson

program

2 of 2

verb

pro·​gram ˈprō-ˌgram How to pronounce program (audio)
-grəm
variants or less commonly programme
programmed or programed; programming or programing

transitive verb

1
a
: to arrange or furnish a program of or for : bill
b
: to enter in a program
2
: to work out a sequence of operations to be performed by (a mechanism, such as a computer) : to provide with a program
3
a
: to insert a program for (a particular action) into or as if into a mechanism (such as a computer)
b
: to control by or as if by a program
c(1)
: to code in an organism's program
(2)
: to provide with a biological program
cells programmed to synthesize hemoglobin
4
: to predetermine the thinking, behavior, or operations of as if by computer programming
children are programmed into violenceLisa A. Richette
programmability noun
programmable adjective or noun

Examples of program in a Sentence

Noun a program of regular dental checkups the program will tell us the scheduled order of musical numbers Verb He programmed the computer to calculate his monthly expenses and earnings. She is learning how to program in school. Can you help me program my cell phone?
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
For more than 13 years, Grosz has become a culinary academic, beginning as an adjunct instructor at Schoolcraft College's culinary arts program in 2010, and transitioning to a full-time faculty member in 2021. Detroit Free Press, 5 Mar. 2024 About $20 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act is going to farm and ranch conservation programs, and projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2024 Those clients include cancer patients who come in for wig fittings, but many clients still avail themselves of online counseling, support groups, mind/body programs and nutrition seminars and consultations. Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Mansfield Lake Ridge looking to stop Plano East’s perfection Mansfield Lake Ridge is entering the state semifinals for the first time in program history. Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2024 Most of the cost was covered by a $6 million federal block grant, an additional $6 million from the state’s Interregional Transportation Improvement program, and $1 million in federal coronavirus relief funds, with the rest of the money from OCTA. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2024 These can be used to redeem through both Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club and Virgin Red program. Ramsey Qubein, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Mar. 2024 As for the Next Women of Country program, 12% of the 125 artists in the program's decadelong history have been women of color. Marcus K. Dowling, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Diversity proved to be a core part of the program’s impact that year with more than 60 percent of the projects written by BIPOC screenwriters, a 40-year age difference among all the participants and six different countries represented. Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 22 Feb. 2024
Verb
Start by throwing out everything you’ve been programmed to think, write, believe. Sarah Jenkins, Rolling Stone, 29 Feb. 2024 Sexton says there may be ways to make the chatbot more approachable and better handle questions it was not programmed to deal with. Matt Burgess, WIRED, 29 Feb. 2024 Authorities also seized three blank, white plastic cards that can be programmed as counterfeit EBT cards. USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2024 The Scranton team competed against other student branches to build and program small robots to navigate a maze in the shortest time possible. IEEE Spectrum, 15 Feb. 2024 No fatal crash has been definitively linked to the more sophisticated Full Self-Driving, which is programmed to guide the car almost anywhere, from quiet suburban roads to busy city streets. Talia Trackim, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024 They can even be programmed to work on timers so that your home can be fully automated. Hannah Rice, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2024 Artificial-intelligence researchers have developed algorithms for meta-learning, but in the Princeton research, the strategy wasn't programmed in advance. David Berreby, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024 These algorithms are programmed to scan résumés for specific keywords and criteria, efficiently filtering out candidates who don't meet the basic qualifications for a role. Shiran Danoch, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'program.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French programme agenda, public notice, from Greek programma, from prographein to write before, from pro- before + graphein to write — more at carve

First Known Use

Noun

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of program was in 1633

Dictionary Entries Near program

Cite this Entry

“Program.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/program. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

program

1 of 2 noun
pro·​gram ˈprō-ˌgram How to pronounce program (audio) -grəm How to pronounce program (audio)
1
: a brief usually written outline describing a presentation (as of a concert or play)
2
: the performance of a program
received a trophy at the awards program
especially : a performance that is broadcast
3
: a plan of action
a program of regular dental checkups
a political program
4
: a set of step-by-step instructions that tell a computer to do something with data

program

2 of 2 verb
programmed or programed
-ˌgramd,
-grəmd
; programming or programing
1
: to provide with a program
program a computer
2
: to direct the thinking or behavior of (someone) as if by a computer program
he's been programmed to believe he can succeed if he tries
programmable adjective

Medical Definition

program

1 of 2 noun
pro·​gram
variants or chiefly British programme
: the genes or sequences of DNA or RNA that are part of an organism or cell and encode or determine a process, trait, or behavior

program

2 of 2 transitive verb
variants or chiefly British programme
programmed or programed; programming or programing
1
: to code in an organism's program
2
: to provide with a biological program
cells programmed to synthesize hemoglobin

More from Merriam-Webster on program

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