prep
noun
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prep
1 American
[prep]
/ prɛp /
noun
-
preps
plural
-
a preliminary or warm-up activity or event; trial run.
The race is a good prep for the Kentucky Derby.
-
preparation.
dealer prep on the car included.
-
the act of preparing a patient for a medical or surgical procedure.
adjective
-
preparatory.
a prep school.
-
involving or used for preparation.
the mortuary's prep room.
verb (used with object)
prepped,
prepping
-
to prepare (a person) for a test, debate, etc.
-
to prepare (a patient) for a medical or surgical procedure, as by shaving and washing the skin with an antibacterial soap.
-
to prepare (a vehicle or craft) for sale, use, a test drive, or a race.
-
to prepare (something); make ready.
You can prep the onions and peppers in advance.
verb (used without object)
prepped,
prepping
-
to prepare; get ready.
to prep for the game.
-
to attend a preparatory school.
PrEP
2
American
[prep]
/ prɛp /
noun
Medicine/Medical.
prep.
3
American
abbreviation
-
preparation.
-
preparatory.
-
prepare.
-
preposition.
prep.
1
British
abbreviation
-
preparation
-
preparatory
-
preposition
prep
2
British
/ prɛp /
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.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
See Examples For:
"I thought our prep was spot-on, no excuses."
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
Ron spasms under his desk, stifled by the small space; a colleague dries a co-worker’s hair with a piece of paper after blowing bubbles in it; Ron does the loudest meal prep you’ll ever hear.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
I gave them another try recently, when suffering through colonoscopy prep.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Working in food, my office is quite literally the kitchen: I write at a repurposed steel prep table, with my laptop on top and Dutch ovens stored below, that sits directly beside the stove.
From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026
“I guess all we can do now to prep is read more books,” said Miguel.
From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein
The US government has already slashed other longstanding HIV/AIDS prevention programs including for PrEP, which had been encouraged to prevent HIV among people engaged in high-risk activities.
From Barron's ● Nov. 18, 2025
Official figures for England show the number of people taking PrEP in sexual health services is increasing.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2025
But since the introduction of powerful antiretroviral drugs in the 1990s that allow those infected to continue living healthy lives — and more recent preventative treatments such as PrEP — fatalities have plunged.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2025
It's PrEPHer program, named after the preventative medication protecting against HIV transmission, seeks to provide Black and brown women with education on sexual health, encourage PrEP usage and connect them with resources.
From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2025
Among those on the chopping block were grants related to PrEP, the regimen of drugs that can thwart HIV infection, scientists told the New York Times.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 29, 2025
“We really haven’t fired on all cylinders yet. Not for a lack of effort, not for a lack of prep. So hopefully that all gets in sync pretty quick.”
From Washington Times ● Jun. 15, 2023
“There’s no such thing as too much site prep. The more you can prepare an area, the better it’s going to look later on,” he says.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 17, 2023
“We really connected more on the mental side of it. The prep. How much it takes to be prepared,” he said.
From Fox News ● Jan. 26, 2020
“And it really doesn’t cost a lot to start a prep. I mean, you started with one printer.”
From The Verge ● Nov. 14, 2019
They keep laying straw after straw on our unfortunate backs, here an exercise and there a problem, or some bit of extra prep., till in the aggregate it's more than mortal girl can bear!
From The Girls of St. Cyprian's A Tale of School Life by Angela Brazil
She preps "summer baskets" which include puzzle books, reading books and snacks to curb any boredom.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
There is a version of yourself who meal preps.
From Salon ● May 5, 2026
Mohwinkel, who heads the cocktail program, preps his concoctions hours before opening.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026
"The crew just shared a peaceful breakfast with our families and we jump back into training tomorrow to start our preps for a March launch to the Moon."
From Barron's ● Feb. 3, 2026
My preps do pretty well until they try to address the spot on my arm where Johanna dug out the tracker.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
Not long ago, when Florida real-estate investor Karlin Ridgeway prepped a house for sale, all-new kitchen appliances were a must.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
"I was literally being prepped to go into surgery when I first found out online that was happening," he said.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
The grass is being measured, the rackets strung and the strawberries and cream prepped.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
Then, while the paper was being prepped for publication, BP began aggressively promoting the ideas it contained.
From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026
In the distance, Greek triremes floated on Long Island Sound, prepped for war.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
Herfurth is used to meal prepping in bulk, and said it’s a common practice among college students hoping to cut costs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026
Instead, the city decided it could spend about $5.6 million razing them and prepping the hill for 100-plus multifamily units.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 14, 2026
Here, Realtor.com lifts the lid on Williams’ many properties—including the luxurious abode where she has been prepping for her on-court return and the elegant home she shared with her sister for many years.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 8, 2026
Pandit alleged Singh withdrew from the film about three weeks before shooting was due to begin, after producers had already spent a lot of money on prepping and overseas schedules.
From BBC ● May 27, 2026
Thanks to science class and Ms. Cantor’s obsession with prepping, I know all about purified urine.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
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.
