prepare
Americanverb (used with object)
-
prepares,
present (3rd person singular)
-
prepared,
past participle, past
-
preparing
present participle
-
to put in proper condition or readiness.
to prepare a patient for surgery.
- Antonyms:
- disorganize
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to get (a meal) ready for eating, as by proper assembling, cooking, etc.
-
to manufacture, compound, or compose.
to prepare a cough syrup.
- Synonyms:
- make
-
Music. to lead up to (a discord, an embellishment, etc.) by some preliminary tone or tones.
verb (used without object)
-
prepares,
present (3rd person singular)
-
prepared,
past participle, past
-
preparing
present participle
verb
-
to make ready or suitable in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
to prepare a meal
to prepare to go
-
to put together using parts or ingredients; compose or construct
-
(tr) to equip or outfit, as for an expedition
-
(tr) music to soften the impact of (a dissonant note) by the use of preparation
-
(foll by an infinitive) to be willing and able (to do something)
I'm not prepared to reveal these figures
Synonym Usage
Prepare, contrive, devise imply planning for and making ready for something expected or thought possible. To prepare is to make ready beforehand for some approaching event, need, and the like: to prepare a room, a speech. Contrive and devise emphasize the exercise of ingenuity and inventiveness. The first word suggests a shrewdness that borders on trickery, but this is absent from devise : to contrive a means of escape; to devise a time-saving method.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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preparesimple
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preparessimple
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have preparedperfect
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has preparedperfect
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am preparingprogressive
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are preparingprogressive
-
is preparingprogressive
-
have been preparingperfect progressive
-
has been preparingperfect progressive
Past
-
preparedsimple
-
had preparedperfect
-
was preparingprogressive
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were preparingprogressive
-
had been preparingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of prepare
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin praeparāre “to make ready beforehand,” equivalent to prae- pre- + parāre “to set, get ready” (akin to parent )
Explanation
To prepare means to get ready for something. When you prepare for a test, you'll get a better score than if you don’t. Look at all the variations that you find with prepare. If you prepare yourself mentally for an experience, you sent you mind on it happening. If you're going to tell your family that you're moving out, you might want to prepare them by having them sit down. Are you prepared for their reaction? Are you prepared to defend your decision? You can prepare wood to be painted by cleaning and sanding it. And if you prepare dinner, you cook it.
Vocabulary lists containing prepare
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
As people are living longer, they need to prepare for a retirement that could last decades.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
Like Fielder’s subjects in “The Rehearsal,” I sometimes prepare for complex social situations, because I don’t improvise well when I’m overwhelmed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026
"Europe has twice been caught asleep – failing to anticipate and prepare for predictable events," he said.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
So many people have done work behind the scenes now to prepare.
From Slate ● Oct. 31, 2026
His silence was nerve-racking, for no one knew whether to prepare for an explosion or a celebration.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Whoever wins city hall will be thrust onto a global stage, as Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Summer Olympics.
From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026
Despite the formidable odds stacked against him he still prepares carefully for every court appearance, taking part in his own defence and helping other inmates with theirs.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026
Mediators in the Middle East have been seeking to revive negotiations between Washington and Tehran as the U.S. prepares additional military options against Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026
Much like a primer prepares a surface for paint, it helps bring together the ingredients needed to create a stable coating.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026
Nathan prepares the bier, I see him lifting the body on to it.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
"We were not prepared for this unrest either, as the wage board has already been formed. But workers are now protesting over wages and other unresolved issues," he said.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
"We were not prepared for this unrest either, as the wage board has already been formed," he said.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
“But it could come sooner than most institutions are prepared for.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2026
"They are not prepared to accept that the investigation is complete simply because the American authorities have decided not to take the matter further," he added.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026
Luckily, the welcoming committee of Swanburne girls was prepared for all the happy tears being shed, and handed each arriving visitor the gift of a commemorative handkerchief.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
“Grand Theft Auto VI” is already the hottest videogame in years, and many gamers are preparing for its Nov. 19 release by scheduling the day off.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
Whenever things look grim, I remember that David Blake, a guy preparing for a marathon bike trip, not that long ago couldn’t walk, talk or even clap his hands.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026
The company said in an earlier update that it was preparing to resume the first phase of withdrawals between 0600 and 0900 GMT on Sunday.
From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026
According to the researchers, the foundation had no involvement in designing or conducting the study, analyzing or interpreting the results, or preparing the manuscript.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 1, 2026
Mater Lumley glanced anxiously at her husband and seized a cardigan from the pile of knitted things, as if preparing to go out.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
