# program

/ˈpɹoʊˌɡɹæm/ (US) · /pɹˈəʊɡɹæm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/program
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. computing

noun · CEFR A2

a set of instructions that tells a computer what to do.

For teachers: a sequence of coded instructions that a computer or other machine performs to complete a task.

- He installed a new program to help him edit his holiday photos.
- The developer spent months refining the program to ensure it could handle thousands of simultaneous users without crashing.

### 2. TV or radio show

noun · CEFR A2

a show on television or radio.

For teachers: a specific broadcast or performance on radio or television.

- My favourite nature program starts at eight o'clock tonight.
- The network decided to cancel the program after the first season due to disappointing viewership numbers in the key demographic.

### 3. plan of activities

noun · CEFR B1

a plan or list of things to be done.

For teachers: a structured series of events, activities, or items of study.

- The university offers a great exchange program for students who want to study abroad.
- The government launched a comprehensive training program designed to help unemployed workers transition into the renewable energy sector.

### 4. event leaflet

noun · CEFR B1

a small book or paper that tells you about a play, concert, or sports game.

For teachers: a printed document describing the items, performers, or participants in an entertainment or sporting event.

- I bought a program at the theatre so I could read about the actors.
- The concert program included detailed notes on the historical context of each symphony performed that evening.

### 5. to write code

verb · CEFR B1

to write the instructions for a computer.

For teachers: to write or provide a set of instructions for a computer or other machine.

- She learned how to program in Python during her first year of college.
- Engineers had to program the satellite's navigation system to adjust its orbit automatically when it detected atmospheric drag.

### 6. to schedule an event

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to arrange or plan a series of events.

For teachers: to arrange or schedule a series of performances, broadcasts, or events.

- The festival directors program a wide variety of films every year.
- The gallery curator chose to program several local artists alongside the international exhibition to highlight the city's vibrant creative scene.

## Examples

- I need to install a new program on my laptop.
- The theater handed out a program that listed all the actors and the order of the scenes.
- While the government's social program aims to reduce poverty, critics argue that the underlying software program used for distribution is prone to technical errors.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.