prepare

[pri-pair]

verb (used with object)

prepared, preparing 

1. to put in proper condition or readiness.

   to prepare a patient for surgery.

   Synonyms: order, arrange, provide
   Antonyms: disorganize

2. to get (a meal) ready for eating, as by proper assembling, cooking, etc.

3. to manufacture, compound, or compose.

   to prepare a cough syrup.

   Synonyms: make

4. Music.,  to lead up to (a discord, an embellishment, etc.) by some preliminary tone or tones.

verb (used without object)

prepared, preparing 

1. to put things or oneself in readiness; get ready.

   to prepare for war.

prepare

/ prɪˈpɛə /

verb

1. to make ready or suitable in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc

   to prepare a meal

   to prepare to go

2. to put together using parts or ingredients; compose or construct

3. (tr) to equip or outfit, as for an expedition

4. (tr) music to soften the impact of (a dissonant note) by the use of preparation

5. (foll by an infinitive) to be willing and able (to do something)

   I'm not prepared to reveal these figures

Other Word Forms

• preparer noun
• reprepare verb (used with object)
• unpreparing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prepare¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin praeparāre “to make ready beforehand,” equivalent to prae- pre- + parāre “to set, get ready” (akin to parent )

Word History and Origins

Origin of prepare¹

C15: from Latin praeparāre, from prae before + parāre to make ready

Synonym Study

Prepare, contrive, devise imply planning for and making ready for something expected or thought possible. To prepare is to make ready beforehand for some approaching event, need, and the like: to prepare a room, a speech. Contrive and devise emphasize the exercise of ingenuity and inventiveness. The first word suggests a shrewdness that borders on trickery, but this is absent from devise : to contrive a means of escape; to devise a time-saving method.

Example Sentences

“It’s certainly nice to be able to get a couple days to reset, prepare, and we’re kind of doing our due diligence,” manager Dave Roberts said on Saturday afternoon.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Finland, Sweden and Norway, all sharing a border with Russia, have long prepared to fight a land war in subzero temperatures.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Bovino called the suggestion that the crowd cleared for a photo opportunity “false news” and that the vehicle was preparing to accompany Border Patrol strike teams on patrol that day.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Medical and psychological rehabilitation will continue and the hostages must also be prepared, says Ms Shwartz, for the moment "when the real world comes in".

Read more on BBC

Investors need to prepare for volatility, profit from dislocations, hedge carefully and direct allocations toward structural winners rather than macro timing.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• arrange 
• assemble 
• brace 
• develop 
• draw up 
• equip 
• form 
• formulate 
• gird 
• make 
• plan 
• produce 
• provide 
• qualify 
• ready 
• strengthen 
• supply 
• train