schedule
/ˈʃed.juːl/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A plan of times and events. It shows when things happen, or the order they happen in.
- My class schedule is very busy this semester.
- The meeting is on the schedule for Monday.
- We followed the train schedule carefully.
verb
To plan something for a particular time. It can also mean to arrange regular times for a task or event.
- We scheduled the interview for Friday.
- Please schedule a call with the client.
- The doctor scheduled my next check-up.
Adinary Nuance
Schedule is more specific than plan. A plan is the idea, but a schedule gives the exact time or order. It is also more concrete than timetable, which is common for transport and school. In business and academic English, schedule is the safest general word.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- lịch trình
- Spanish
- horario
- Chinese
- 日程
- Japanese
- 予定
- Korean
- 일정
Etymology
Schedule came into English from Old French in the late Middle Ages. The word ultimately comes from Latin schedula, meaning a small slip of paper.
Common phrases
work scheduleclass scheduleschedule a meetingahead of schedule
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is schedule a noun or a verb?
- It is both. As a noun, it means a list of times or events. As a verb, it means to arrange a time for something.
- What is the difference between schedule and timetable?
- Schedule is the broader word. Timetable is often used for transport, school, and fixed public times.
- How do I use schedule in a sentence?
- You can say, “We scheduled the meeting for Tuesday” or “My schedule is full.”
- Is schedule common in business English?
- Yes. It is very common in business, office work, school, and travel.