design

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveA2

Definition

to plan and decide the shape, appearance, and features of something such as a building, piece of clothing, or machine, typically by creating detailed drawings first.

Example

Gabriela designed a new type of wheelchair that folds flat for travel.

design + direct object (product)

The local architecture firm designed the library with large windows to let in natural light.

design + object + with + feature

Common collocations

design a building
design a system
design a product
design a website
specially designed
designed by

Synonyms

plan
broader — can mean organising steps or dates, not necessarily visual creation
draft
focuses on the early sketch stage before the final version
create
more general — can apply to art, writing, or anything new
devise
more formal and suggests clever or inventive planning

Grammar Patterns

design + noun phrase

design + for + noun

design (intransitive, no object)

Usage Note

Transitive use ('design + object') is most common. The intransitive use ('She designs for a fashion brand') is more typical in professional contexts.

Common Mistakes

She drawed the kitchen herself.

She designed the kitchen herself.

'Draw' only refers to making a picture; 'design' includes planning the function and layout, not just drawing.

I planed a new app last night.

I designed a new app last night.

'Plan' focuses on organising steps; 'design' includes deciding the look and user experience.

2.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

to plan or create something with a specific goal or purpose in mind — for example, arranging a training course so that it works well for complete beginners.

Example

This small reading room was designed for quiet study, not for loud group work.

passive: be designed for + purpose

The new app is designed to help new parents track their baby's feeding and sleep schedule.

passive: be designed to + infinitive

Common collocations

designed to help
designed for use
designed specifically
designed primarily
originally designed
designed with ... in mind

Synonyms

intend
used for purposes or goals generally, not just for created objects
mean for
more informal; 'I meant this gift for you'
aim
focuses on the goal; 'The programme aims to reduce waste'
tailor
suggests adjusting something for a specific group or need

Grammar Patterns

be designed to + infinitive

be designed for + noun phrase

design + noun phrase + to + infinitive

Usage Note

Very frequently used in the passive voice ('be designed to' / 'be designed for'). The active form ('The architect designed the house to capture sunlight') is less common but correct for emphasising the creator's intention.

Common Mistakes

This tool is planned for cutting plastic.

This tool is designed for cutting plastic.

'Plan for' can work but 'design for' emphasises that the tool was built with that specific use in mind.

I designed to finish the report by Friday.

I planned to finish the report by Friday.

'Design' with a personal intention ('design to do') is not used for everyday plans; use 'intend to' or 'plan to'.

1.nounA2

Definition

a detailed technical sketch or blueprint that shows exactly how a building, machine, or product should be built and how its components fit together.

Example

The architect pinned her design for the new school building onto the wall.

design + for + (what is being built)

Brandon spread the design across the table and pointed out each room to the builders.

Common collocations

the original design
a preliminary design
design drawing
design document
design phase
final design

Synonyms

blueprint
specifically for buildings or machines; more technical
plan
broader — can be a written schedule or a map, not necessarily a visual drawing
draft
suggests a first or incomplete version of a design
schematic
technical, used for electrical or mechanical systems

Grammar Patterns

design + of + noun

design + for + noun

Usage Note

This sense refers to the physical drawing or digital file itself. If you mean the general arrangement or concept (not the document), use noun sense 3 (ARRANGEMENT) instead.

Common Mistakes

I drew a design of my dream kitchen.

I made a design for my dream kitchen.

'Design of' describes the arrangement; 'design for' describes the plan intended to guide creation.

2.nounB1

Definition

the skill, profession, or academic subject of planning the look and function of objects, buildings, images, and digital products.

Example

Talia studied graphic design at a college in Taipei for four years.

field of study: studied + [type] + design

Allison earned a degree in industrial design and now works for a hospital equipment company.

profession pathway: degree in + [field] + design → works for [company type]

Common collocations

graphic design
fashion design
industrial design
interior design
product design
web design
design school
design student

Grammar Patterns

design + as a field of study/work

in + design

Usage Note

Always uncountable when referring to the field or activity. 'A design' (countable) is only used for a specific plan or pattern (see noun sense 1 or 4). Common compound fields: graphic design, interior design, industrial design, web design, fashion design.

3.nounB1

Definition

the particular way that the parts of something are organised or arranged, which affects how it looks and functions.

Example

The design of the new smartphone makes it easy to hold with one hand.

the design of + product

Critics praised the design of the stadium for its clever energy-saving features.

praise the design of + for + feature

Common collocations

the basic design
overall design
design feature
design flaw
design change
improve the design
simple design

Synonyms

layout
focuses on spatial arrangement rather than overall concept
structure
emphasises how parts connect and support each other
configuration
more technical; used for systems or electronic devices
format
used for documents, events, or digital files

Grammar Patterns

the design of + noun

design + verb (has, features, includes)

Usage Note

Overlaps with noun sense 1 (DRAWING), but sense 3 refers to the abstract arrangement itself, not the physical documentation. If you can replace 'design' with 'layout' or 'arrangement', you are using sense 3.

4.nounB1

Definition

a repeated arrangement of shapes, lines, or colours that decorates the surface of cloth, paper, wallpaper, tiles, or other objects.

Example

The curtains have a floral design of roses and small green leaves.

a [adjective] design of [elements]

Gabriela chose a geometric design of blue and white triangles for the bathroom tiles.

Common collocations

floral design
geometric design
abstract design
traditional design
intricate design
simple design

Synonyms

pattern
almost interchangeable; 'pattern' is slightly more general and can include non-visual repetition
motif
a single repeated element within a larger design
decoration
broader — includes colours, textures, and ornaments, not just patterns

Grammar Patterns

design + of + noun

design + on + surface

design + in + colour/material

Usage Note

Distinguish from noun sense 1 (DRAWING): sense 4 describes the pattern itself as a decorative element, not a technical instruction for making something.

Common Mistakes

I like the drawing on this fabric.

I like the design on this fabric.

'Drawing' suggests a one-off picture; 'design' suggests a pattern intended for repetition on a surface.

5.nounB2

Definition

a conscious choice or purpose behind an action or arrangement — most commonly used in the fixed phrase 'by design', meaning 'on purpose' or 'deliberately.'

Example

The author left the ending unclear by design, not because she ran out of ideas.

by design = deliberately

By design, the park has no benches, so visitors keep walking through the space.

Common collocations

by design
by accident or by design

Synonyms

intention
neutral — can be used in any context; 'design' in this sense is more formal and limited in use
purpose
broader — the reason something is done, not just the deliberate choice

Grammar Patterns

by design

have designs on + noun

Usage Note

In modern English, this sense is almost entirely limited to the phrase 'by design' (adverbial, meaning 'intentionally'). The alternative phrase 'have designs on' belongs to sense 6 (SECRET SCHEME) and carries a different, often negative, meaning.

Common Mistakes

I finished the report by design.

I finished the report on purpose / deliberately.

'By design' is typically used for systems or outcomes, not for everyday personal actions. It sounds overly dramatic for routine tasks.

She has designs on becoming a doctor.

She plans to become a doctor.

'Have designs on' implies dishonest or secret scheming, not a normal career goal.

6.nounB2

Definition

secret plans, often dishonest or selfish, to obtain something that belongs to someone else or to gain control over a situation or person.

Example

The journalist discovered that the company had designs on taking over its main rival.

have designs on + [target]

Neighbours warned the family that the man had designs on their grandmother's house.

Common collocations

have designs on
designs on the throne
designs on someone's fortune
designs on power

Synonyms

scheme
a dishonest plan; 'scheme' is a direct synonym but can also be neutral in British English ('pension scheme')
plot
suggests a secret plan to do something illegal or harmful
conspiracy
a secret plan made by a group of people, typically for an unlawful purpose

Grammar Patterns

have designs on + noun

Usage Note

Almost always appears in the plural form 'designs' within the phrase 'have designs on [something/someone].' Singular 'a design' is not used for this sense. The meaning is typically negative — implying greed, dishonesty, or hidden motives.

Common Mistakes

He has a design on her money.

He has designs on her money.

The phrase always uses the plural 'designs,' never the singular 'design.'

The company has designs to expand into Asia.

The company has plans to expand into Asia.

'Designs on' implies selfish or dishonest intent; for neutral expansion plans, use 'plans to' instead.

Idioms

have designs on somebody

idiom

To be interested in starting a romantic or sexual relationship with someone.

Maya suspected that her coworker had designs on her.

Did you know that Tom has designs on your sister?

have designs on something

idiom

To secretly plan to take something for yourself, often in a way that others might not like.

The company had designs on the competitor's technology.

Rumors say that the general has designs on the presidency.

Word family

designer
nounA2
designer
adjectiveB1
designed
adjectiveB1
designing
adjectiveB2
redesign
verbB2
redesign
nounB2
designer
adjective (e.g. designer label)B1
well-designed
adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

While all five words involve bringing something new into existence, they differ in focus and scope. 'Design' emphasises both the visual appearance and functional planning of an object or system — it is the most specific when talking about how something will look and work. 'Plan' is broader: you can plan a vacation, a budget, or a meeting, none of which require visual drawings. 'Draft' focuses on the early, rough version of a document, design, or proposal — it suggests incompleteness and later revision. 'Devise' is more formal and implies clever or inventive thinking ('She devised a clever system for sorting donations'), while 'create' is the most general, covering anything from a painting to a new recipe to a software program. In practice, an architect designs a museum but also plans the construction schedule, drafts the initial sketches, devises a solution to a structural problem, and creates the final vision. The choice depends on which aspect of the process you want to highlight.

design ↗plan ↗draft ↗devise ↗create ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

design process
design team
design stage
design concept
design element
design principle
design award
design software

Adverbs

carefully designed
specially designed
specifically designed
originally designed
newly designed
well-designed
badly designed
poorly designed

Phrases

by design
have designs on
design and build
design and development

Prepositions

design for
design of
design by
design in

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'design' comes from the Latin verb 'designare,' meaning 'to mark out' or 'to point out.' This was formed by combining 'de-' (out) with 'signare' (to mark), which itself comes from 'signum' (a mark or sign). The word passed through French as 'desseigner' (meaning 'to intend' or 'to plan') before entering English in the 1500s. The two main branches of meaning — making drawings, and intending a purpose — were both present from the early days of the word in English, reflecting its dual Latin roots of 'marking out' a shape and 'pointing out' a goal.

Entries near

Previous entries

Next entries

design

design — verb

1. to plan and decide the shape, appearance, and features of something such as a bu

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to plan or create something with a specific goal or purpose in mind — for exampl

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

design — noun

1. a detailed technical sketch or blueprint that shows exactly how a building, mach

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. the skill, profession, or academic subject of planning the look and function of

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

3. the particular way that the parts of something are organised or arranged, which

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

4. a repeated arrangement of shapes, lines, or colours that decorates the surface o

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

5. a conscious choice or purpose behind an action or arrangement — most commonly us

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

6. secret plans, often dishonest or selfish, to obtain something that belongs to so

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

have designs on somebody

have designs on something

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

Entries near

Entries near