equip

¹

[ih-kwip]

verb (used with object)

equipped, equipping 

1. to supply with whatever gear or apparatus is needed for use or for any undertaking; fit out, as a ship or army.

   They spent several thousand dollars to equip their boat.

   Synonyms: rig, outfit

2. to provide with intellectual or emotional resources; prepare.

   Education and travel have equipped her to deal with all sorts of people.

3. to dress; array.

   He equipped himself in all his finery.

equip.

²

abbreviation

1. equipment.

equip

/ ɪˈkwɪp /

verb

1. to furnish with (necessary supplies, etc)

2. (usually passive) to provide with abilities, understanding, etc

   her son was never equipped to be a scholar

3. to dress out; attire

Other Word Forms

• equipper noun
• preequip verb (used with object)
• reequip verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of equip¹

First recorded in 1515–25; from Middle French equiper, Old French esquiper “to fit out, equip,” probably from Old Norse skipa “to put in order, arrange, man (a ship)”

Word History and Origins

Origin of equip¹

C16: from Old French eschiper to embark, fit out (a ship), of Germanic origin; compare Old Norse skipa to put in order, skip ship

Synonym Study

See furnish.

Example Sentences

No one actor is more immediately equipped to bring this role as much compassion as Byrne does.

Read more on Salon

This approach emphasizes education, based on the idea that the more informed you are about your injury, or how you should feel, the better equipped you are to understand and manage recovery.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Amazon’s new devices are equipped with more sensors to understand what’s happening in your home.

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Increasingly sophisticated traps, equipped with cameras and artificial intelligence that can identify species in real time, are being deployed.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Her apartment is equipped with radiation detectors, air-quality monitors and emergency lights.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• adorn 
• arm 
• deck out 
• decorate 
• dress 
• endow 
• furnish 
• gear 
• prepare 
• provide 
• qualify 
• rig 
• set up 
• supply