Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

prep

1 American  
[prep] / prɛp /

noun

  1. preparatory school.

  2. a preliminary or warm-up activity or event; trial run.

    The race is a good prep for the Kentucky Derby.

  3. preparation.

    dealer prep on the car included.

  4. the act of preparing a patient for a medical or surgical procedure.

adjective

  1. preparatory.

    a prep school.

  2. involving or used for preparation.

    the mortuary's prep room.

verb (used with object)

prepped, prepping

  1. to prepare (a person) for a test, debate, etc.

  2. to prepare (a patient) for a medical or surgical procedure, as by shaving and washing the skin with an antibacterial soap.

  3. to prepare (a vehicle or craft) for sale, use, a test drive, or a race.

  4. to prepare (something); make ready.

    You can prep the onions and peppers in advance.

verb (used without object)

prepped, prepping

  1. to prepare; get ready.

    to prep for the game.

  2. to attend a preparatory school.

PrEP 2 American  
[prep] / prɛp /

noun

Medicine/Medical.

  1. pre-exposure prophylaxis: the prevention of a disease such as HIV or hepatitis A through the use of pills or vaccine, administered typically to those whose risk of contracting the disease is substantial.

prep. 3 American  

abbreviation

  1. preparation.

  2. preparatory.

  3. prepare.

  4. preposition.

prep. 1 British  

abbreviation

  1. preparation

  2. preparatory

  3. preposition

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
prep 2 British  
/ prɛp /

noun

  1. informal short for preparation preparatory school

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to prepare (a patient) for a medical operation or procedure

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What else does prep mean? Preps are people who live a preppy lifestyle, associated with young, rich, usually white men and their stereotypical fashion.

Etymology

Origin of prep

First recorded in 1860–65; by shortening

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.

Perhaps the biggest downside of garlic is the prep work: peeling and mincing individual cloves can be a nuisance even for the everyday home cook.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

"Whether you're living with a partner, housemate, or family, your daily interactions -- from hugging, kissing and sharing food prep spaces -- may encourage the exchange of gut microbes," said Dr. Lee.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

Set years after the original drama, the show returns Ann Dowd to the role of Aunt Lydia, who runs a prep school for young women in Gilead.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Earlier in the afternoon, the final two major prep races for the Kentucky Derby were held at Keeneland and Aqueduct, with each likely producing a pair of starters.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

The room smelled like the alcohol prep pads my uncle kept in the medicine cabinet.

From "Harbor Me" by Jacqueline Woodson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.