preparation

American  

[prep-uh-rey-shuhn] / ˌprɛp əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

• preparations
  plural

1. a proceeding, measure, or provision by which one prepares for something.

   preparations for a journey.

2. any proceeding, experience, or the like considered as a mode of preparing for the future.

3. an act of preparing.

4. the state of being prepared.

5. something prepared, manufactured, or compounded.

   a special preparation for sunbathers.

6. a specimen, as an animal body, prepared for scientific examination, dissection, etc.

7. Music.

   1. the preparing of a dissonance, by introducing the dissonant tone as a consonant tone in the preceding chord.

   2. the tone so introduced.

8. New Testament. the day before the Sabbath or a feast day.

9. British. work done by students in preparation for class; homework.

10. the Preparation, the introductory prayers of the Mass or other divine service.

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preparation British  

/ ˌprɛpəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of preparing

2. the state of being prepared; readiness

3. (often plural) a measure done in order to prepare for something; provision

   to make preparations for something

4. something that is prepared, esp a medicinal formulation

5. 1. homework

   2. Usually shortened to: prep.  the period reserved for this

6. music

   1. the anticipation of a dissonance so that the note producing it in one chord is first heard in the preceding chord as a consonance

   2. a note so employed

7. (often capital) the preliminary prayers at Mass or divine service

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonpreparation
  noun
• prepreparation
  noun
• self-preparation
  noun
• superpreparation
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• preparations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of preparation

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English preparacion, from Latin praeparātiōn-, stem of praeparātiō, from praeparāt(us) “made ready beforehand” (past participle of praeparāre “to make ready beforehand”; see prepare) + -iō -ion

Explanation

Preparation is the act of preparing — getting ready, planning, training, or studying with a goal in mind. If you know pre means before, then you have a clue to the meaning of preparation. Dressing up before a date, learning your lines for a play, and attending medical school are all forms of preparation. Boot camp is preparation for soldiers. Rehearsal is preparation for actors. In cooking a huge meal, you have to do a lot of preparation before actually beginning to cook. If you fail a test, you clearly need to do more preparation next time.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

preparation preparations

Ferguson's relentless United sides set the standard during the Premier League's formative years before Wenger transformed perceptions of preparation, sports science and nutrition at Arsenal.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Another key to preparation is creating so-called asset protection zones -- meaning fuel for the fire is kept away from where people live.

From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026

Many crops require weeks or months of preparation to grow and harvest, Shreve said, so boosting production is easier said than done.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

St. John Bosco, the preseason No. 1 team in The Times’ top 25 rankings, begins preparation for its Aug. 21 road opener in Las Vegas against Bishop Gorman.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

Of this preparation a tolerably abundant plateful was apportioned to each pupil.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Since L.A. was awarded the Games almost a decade ago, the 18-year-old watched preparations slowly improve the infrastructure of his hometown.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Announcing Phillipson's appointment, Burnham said she would help the party focus on preparations for a new digital campaigning environment.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

The preparations come despite concerns in Washington about America’s endgame and the mounting cost of the war.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

Tesla amended its presentation in April to signal that preparations are underway for those cities but did not give a timeline.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026

All these preparations require explanations to various people who we feel ought to be kept in the dark.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

Related Words

• arrangement
• construction
• education
• establishment
• formation
• groundwork
• measure
• plan
• precaution
• preparedness
• qualification
• rehearsal
• study
• training