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to program

to program

186 3.4
To write instructions for a computer to do tasks
  • verb
  • /ˈproʊɡræm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : programar
  • He decided to program the robot to help with household chores.
  • program a computer
  • program a device
  • program a machine

You can clearly program an AI to make that decision.

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Examples

  • You can easily program your computer to perform repetitive tasks automatically.

  • You can clearly program an AI to make that decision.

  • OK, and you program without side effects.

  • The first thing that I always program in now is a response to that.

  • And you can program it to go after a certain person.

  • You will actually be able to program actions for gestures.

  • I can make the comparisons and checks and program the computer to look for relevant information.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • With some practice, you will learn how to program applications for mobile devices.

Synonyms

to write
vsto program
  • Specialized
752 3.1

Put code or data onto a computer storage device

focuses specifically on making instructions that make devices perform tasks
to code
vsto program
  • Specialized
28 3.4

To write instructions for a computer using a programming language

is for making instructions for computers or other devices to perform tasks

Antonyms

to deprogram
  • Specialized
1 6.3

To remove instructions or settings from an electronic device

Compounds

70 3.4

A government project to explore outer space using rockets and satellites

A planned set of lessons and activities to teach new skills

computer program
  • Specialized
32 2.3

A set of instructions that tells a computer what to do

26 1.0

A show or series that people watch on television

news program
  • Literature
25 1.9

A television or radio show that reports current events

21 3.6

A small test project that tries a new idea before using it everywhere

16 1.0

A show, series, or live event that people watch on television

A planned group of courses to teach a specific subject or skill

software program
  • Specialized
12 2.7

A set of written instructions that tells a computer what to do

A set of college or university courses that leads to a diploma

works program
  • Formal
6 3.9

Government plan that gives people jobs building or fixing roads and buildings

A program that gives rewards to encourage people, especially employees, to reach goals

A planned set of school courses in subjects like arts and sciences to prepare for college

A planned course of treatment to help someone recover after illness, injury, or addiction

A series of US space missions that landed people on the Moon and brought them safely home

A course of activities that helps students learn to read

A plan that helps people save money to use after they stop working

anti-virus program
  • Specialized
3 2.9

A tool that finds and removes harmful software from a computer

monitoring program
  • Specialized
3 4.1

A program that watches and checks how a computer system works

2 4.4

A short, intense course of training to meet an urgent need

A written plan that says what a party or candidate will do if elected

service program
  • Specialized
2 4.2

A piece of software that runs in the background to help other apps or the system

tax program
  • Formal
2 3.4

A government's plan for how it sets and collects taxes

1 3.4

An official plan to protect a country using its military

A system where students do paid part-time work and study to gain experience

A course that teaches practical skills for a specific job

program trading
  • Specialized
1 6.9

A way of buying and selling large amounts of stocks using computer programs

training program
  • Specialized
1 3.3

Software that makes a computer model learn from many examples

C program
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A computer program written in the C language

client program
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A program on your computer that gets data and services from a server

diagnostic program
  • Specialized
1 4.0

A piece of software that finds and explains computer problems

application program
  • Specialized
1 3.2

Computer software that helps you do specific tasks like writing or managing files

A United States program from 1948 to 1952 that gave money to rebuild Europe after World War II

monitor program
  • Specialized
1 4.6

A computer tool that watches a system, reports problems, and can restart services

1 2.7

A television or radio show where people answer questions to win prizes

supervisory program
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A program that controls other programs and how they run

1 5.5

A United States government effort that finds and cleans the worst sites with dangerous chemical waste

source program
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A set of instructions written in a language people can read and later changed into code a computer can run

sorting program
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A computer tool that puts data items in order by name or number

utility program
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A computer tool that does system tasks like cleaning files or scanning for viruses

1 3.3

A plan to manage and improve water for a town or region

binary program
  • Specialized
5.9

A file a computer can run directly, like an app

checking program
  • Specialized
4.2

A computer program that finds mistakes in other programs' code

compiling program
  • Specialized
5.2

A program that turns programming code into instructions the computer can run

defense program
  • Specialized
3.7

A program that protects computers and networks from harmful software

editor program
  • Specialized
3.5

A computer program that changes text or code files

algorithmic program
  • Specialized
6.0

A set of computer instructions that follow rules to solve a problem

assembly program
  • Specialized
5.9

A computer tool that translates assembly language into code the computer can run

audit program
  • Specialized
4.2

A planned list of steps for people who check accounts to follow

audit program
  • Specialized
4.0

Computer software that collects logs and makes reports for checking accounts and systems

executive program
  • Specialized
6.5

A program that controls other programs on a computer

FORTRAN program
  • Specialized
6.1

A computer program written in the Fortran language for science or math calculations

library program
  • Specialized
4.3

Computer code stored in a library that helps other software do common tasks

LISP program
  • Specialized
6.0

A set of instructions for a computer written in LISP

malevolent program
  • Specialized
8.0

Software that harms computers, for example by stealing data

The first United States project to send a person into orbit around Earth

United States space project that sent people into Earth's orbit in 1965 and 1966 to prepare for Moon missions

heuristic program
  • Specialized
8.4

A computer program that uses simple rules to find good solutions when checking every choice is impossible

input program
  • Specialized
5.8

Software that takes data from devices or files and converts it into a form the computer can use

interpretive program
  • Specialized
7.7

A computer tool that runs code one line at a time without compiling

An activity at a museum or park that explains exhibits and natural features to visitors

object program
  • Specialized
6.1

A file that is ready for a computer to run

program library
  • Specialized
3.7

A collection of ready-made pieces of code developers use in applications

program line
  • Specialized
4.1

A single line of code in a computer program

program music
  • Specialized
6.8

Music that tells a story or shows scenes without words

program optimization
  • Specialized
5.1

To make a computer program run faster and use less memory or power

Software that gives quizzes and marks answers for students

reading program
  • Specialized
3.5

Software that reads on-screen text aloud for people with sight or reading problems

relocatable program
  • Specialized
6.8

A computer program that can be loaded and run from different parts of computer memory without change

reusable program
  • Specialized
3.9

A computer program that you load once and run many times

output program
  • Specialized
5.9

A program that prepares computer results for printing or saving

A course before someone starts a job that teaches basic skills and how to behave at work

self-adapting program
  • Specialized
8.1

A computer program that changes how it works when conditions change

How Complex

to develop
668 1.8
to program
  • Specialized
186 3.4
to code
  • Specialized
28 3.4

Surface Forms

program infinitive
programmed past
programmed past participle
programming present participle
programs third person singular

Etymology

A helpful way to remember the verb program is to know it comes from pro- ('before') and gram ('something written'), so to program a computer is to 'write' its instructions ahead of time. That's why programming means making code that tells the computer what to do.