agenda

/əˈdʒendə/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈdʒendə/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈjen-də/ (ame, mw)

agenda — noun

1. a written set of topics that people plan to talk about or decide on during a mee

1.名詞C1
釋義

a written set of topics that people plan to talk about or decide on during a meeting, class, or other organized discussion.

例句

The chair emailed the agenda before Monday's budget meeting at City Hall.

agenda before a meeting

Please add school lunches to the agenda for tonight's parent meeting.

add something to the agenda

同義詞
  • schedule

    can overlap, but usually emphasizes timing rather than discussion topics

  • order of business

    more formal and specifically for the sequence of meeting items

  • program

    often used for events or classes rather than formal discussion

文法句型

an agenda for + meeting

on the agenda

add + noun + to the agenda

用法筆記

Common with verbs such as 'write', 'circulate', 'follow', and 'add to'. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about broader goals rather than the topic list for one meeting.

常見錯誤

❌The budget issue was in the agenda.
✅The budget issue was on the agenda.
💡use 'on' for a topic included in a meeting list.
❌We prepared an agenda of the meeting.
✅We prepared an agenda for the meeting.
💡use 'for' to show which meeting the list belongs to.

2. a group's set of goals or changes it hopes to achieve, especially over time thro

2.名詞C2
釋義

a group's set of goals or changes it hopes to achieve, especially over time through planned action.

例句

Lower rent was high on the mayor's agenda after the summer protests.

high on someone's agenda

The charity's agenda includes free meals and warm beds for teenagers.

agenda includes goals

同義詞
  • plan

    broader and less often linked to politics or public priorities

  • program

    often suggests a more organized set of actions or policies

  • platform

    best for the public aims and promises of a political group

文法句型

someone's agenda

high on the agenda

agenda for + noun/-ing

用法筆記

Often modified by words like 'political', 'campaign', 'economic', or 'reform'. Distinguish from sense 1, which is the list for one meeting, and from sense 3, which suggests a motive someone may be hiding.

常見錯誤

❌My agenda tomorrow is very busy.
✅My schedule tomorrow is very busy.
💡this sense of 'agenda' is about goals or plans, not your timetable.
❌The party's agenda is at three o'clock.
✅The party meeting is at three o'clock.
💡an 'agenda' is not the meeting time itself.

3. a private purpose behind someone's words or actions, especially one they do not

3.名詞C1
釋義

a private purpose behind someone's words or actions, especially one they do not admit openly.

例句

Mina suspected the reporter had a hidden agenda behind the friendly questions.

hidden agenda

His offer to help came with an agenda nobody trusted.

come with an agenda

同義詞
  • motive

    general word for a reason behind an action, without always implying secrecy

  • ulterior motive

    very close in meaning and clearly suggests a hidden, often selfish purpose

  • intention

    more neutral and less suspicious than 'agenda' in this sense

文法句型

a hidden agenda

agenda behind + noun

have an agenda

用法筆記

Most often used when people distrust someone's public reason for acting. Frequently appears as 'hidden agenda' and usually carries a negative tone.

常見錯誤

❌I think she has an agenda to sell the product.
✅I think she has an agenda behind that advice.
💡this sense is a hidden motive, not a direct 'to + verb' plan.
❌The manager showed agenda in his speech.
✅The manager showed a hidden agenda in his speech.
💡this sense normally needs an article and often an adjective such as 'hidden'.