schedules and agendas

I. sched‧ule¹ S2 W3 AC /ˈʃedjuːl, ˈske- $ ˈskedʒʊl, -dʒəl/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Word Family: verb: ↑schedule, ↑reschedule; adjective: scheduled, rescheduled; noun: ↑schedule]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: cedule 'piece of paper, note', from Late Latin schedula, from Latin scheda 'sheet of papyrus']
1. a plan of what someone is going to do and when they are going to do it
on schedule (=at the planned time)
The majority of holiday flights depart and arrive on schedule.
ahead of/behind schedule (=before or after the planned time)
Meg’s new book is still well ahead of schedule.
How can he fit everything into his busy schedule?
I’m going to be working to a very tight schedule (=including a lot of things that must be done in a short time).
2. American English a list that shows the times that buses, trains etc leave or arrive at a particular place SYN timetable British English
3. a formal list of something, for example prices:
a schedule of postal charges
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ schedule a detailed plan of what someone is going to do and when they will do it, especially someone important: He has a very busy schedule. | The President’s schedule includes a two-day visit to St Petersburg.
▪ timetable British English, schedule American English a written list that shows the exact times when something will happen, for example when planes or buses leave, or when classes at school take place: The timetable said there was another train at 6.15. | According to the class schedule, English 104 is at 10 am in Royce Hall.
▪ programme British English, program American English a plan that shows the order of activities at a ceremony, sports meeting, public event etc: Who is organizing the conference programme? | the next event on the program
▪ agenda a list of the subjects that will be discussed at a meeting: Attached is the agenda for the budget committee meeting. | the final item on the agenda
▪ timeline a plan for when things will happen or how long you think something will take – used especially in business English: The timeline for the project is less than six months from start to finish. | What is the usual timeline from the sale of a house to the day you can move in?
▪ itinerary a plan or list of the places you will visit on a journey, usually with the date or time that you will be there: The Travel Pack includes a detailed itinerary, maps, and a travel guide. | Let me know your itinerary when you know it.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

schedule

sched·ule AW [schedule schedules scheduled scheduling] noun, verb [ˈʃedjuːl] [ˈskedʒuːl]

noun
1. countable, uncountable a plan that lists all the work that you have to do and when you must do each thing
• I have a hectic schedule for the next few days.
• We're working to a tight schedule (= we have a lot of things to do in a short time).
• Filming began on schedule (= at the planned time).
• The new bridge has been finished two years ahead of schedule.
• The tunnel project has already fallen behind schedule.

• We are trying desperately to keep to our schedule.

2. countable (NAmE) = timetable
• a train schedule

• Chinese will be on the school schedule from next year.

3. countable a list of the television and radio programmes that are on a particular channel and the times that they start
• The channel's schedules are filled with old films and repeats.

• Channel 4 has published its spring schedules.

4. countable a written list of things, for example prices, rates or conditions
• tax schedules
Word Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense ‘scroll, explanatory note, appendix’): from Old French cedule, from late Latin schedula ‘slip of paper’, diminutive of scheda, from Greek skhedē ‘papyrus leaf’. The verb dates from the mid 19th cent.
Thesaurus:
schedule noun C, U
• We're working to a tight schedule.
timetable • • itinerary • • diary • • calendar • • agenda • |BrE programme • |AmE program •
be/put sth in the/your schedule/timetable/itinerary/diary/calendar/programme
on the schedule/timetable/itinerary/calendar/agenda/programme
a busy/full/packed schedule/timetable/diary/calendar/agenda/programme
checl/consult the/your schedule/timetable/diary/calendar
Schedule or timetable? A schedule is usually a plan of what must happen; a timetable is often a plan of what you hope will happen
• work/production schedules
• the government's timetable for the peace talks

Which Word?:
agenda / diary / schedule / timetable
A book with a space for each day where you write down things that you have to do in the future is called a diary or a datebook (NAmE) (not an agenda). You may also have a calendar on your desk or hanging up in your room, where you write down your appointments. A diary or a journal is also the record that some people keep of what has happened during the day: ▪ the Diary of Anne Frank.
In BrE your schedule is a plan that lists all the work that you have to do and when you must do each thing and a timetable is a list showing the fixed times at which events will happen: a ▪ bus/train timetable. In NAmE these are both called a schedule.
Example Bank:
• Allow time in the schedule for sickness.
• At this stage everything is going according to schedule.
• Connor checked the bus schedules for the day.
• I'm trying to fit everything into my busy schedule.
• She has a very demanding schedule.
• The president took time out of his busy schedule to visit our school.
• The project is right on schedule.
• We had to work a lot of overtime to meet the strict production schedule.
• We have a tight schedule to keep.
• We're five days off schedule.
• We're starting to slip behind schedule.
• disruptions to flight schedules caused by the strike
• Filming began on schedule.
• The new bridge has been finished two years ahead of schedule.
• The show trebled ratings for the channel's afternoon schedule.
• The tunnel project has already fallen behind schedule.
• What's your schedule like next semester?
• a bus/flight/train schedule