prep
1 Americannoun
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a preliminary or warm-up activity or event; trial run.
The race is a good prep for the Kentucky Derby.
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preparation.
dealer prep on the car included.
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the act of preparing a patient for a medical or surgical procedure.
adjective
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preparatory.
a prep school.
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involving or used for preparation.
the mortuary's prep room.
verb (used with object)
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to prepare (a person) for a test, debate, etc.
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to prepare (a patient) for a medical or surgical procedure, as by shaving and washing the skin with an antibacterial soap.
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to prepare (a vehicle or craft) for sale, use, a test drive, or a race.
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to prepare (something); make ready.
You can prep the onions and peppers in advance.
verb (used without object)
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to prepare; get ready.
to prep for the game.
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to attend a preparatory school.
noun
abbreviation
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preparation.
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preparatory.
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prepare.
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preposition.
abbreviation
-
preparation
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preparatory
-
preposition
noun
verb
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.
Holding kids back in school for an athletic edge has existed for decades on the elite fringe of prep sports.
If you’re in a season where prep feels like the barrier, let the factory do the knife work.
From Salon
The company says it has deployed Gemini for Education, with virtual test prep and research help, at more than 1,000 colleges.
He was one of the leading scorers in the City Section at 28.5 points per game and left for prep school at Academy of Central Florida, where he’s averaging close to 20 points.
From Los Angeles Times
"We are a country that has rolled out more oral prep than any country in the world," explains Bekker.
From BBC
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.