prepare
Americanverb (used with object)
-
prepares,
present (3rd person singular)
-
prepared,
past participle, past
-
preparing
present participle
-
to put in proper condition or readiness.
to prepare a patient for surgery.
- Antonyms:
- disorganize
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to get (a meal) ready for eating, as by proper assembling, cooking, etc.
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to manufacture, compound, or compose.
to prepare a cough syrup.
- Synonyms:
- make
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Music. to lead up to (a discord, an embellishment, etc.) by some preliminary tone or tones.
verb (used without object)
-
prepares,
present (3rd person singular)
-
prepared,
past participle, past
-
preparing
present participle
verb
-
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
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to put together using parts or ingredients; compose or construct
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(tr) to equip or outfit, as for an expedition
-
(tr) music to soften the impact of (a dissonant note) by the use of preparation
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(foll by an infinitive) to be willing and able (to do something)
I'm not prepared to reveal these figures
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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preparesimple
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preparessimple
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have preparedperfect
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has preparedperfect
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am preparingprogressive
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are preparingprogressive
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is preparingprogressive
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have been preparingperfect progressive
-
has been preparingperfect progressive
Past
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preparedsimple
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had preparedperfect
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was preparingprogressive
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were preparingprogressive
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had been preparingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of prepare
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin praeparāre “to make ready beforehand,” equivalent to prae- pre- + parāre “to set, get ready” (akin to parent )
Explanation
To prepare means to get ready for something. When you prepare for a test, you'll get a better score than if you don’t. Look at all the variations that you find with prepare. If you prepare yourself mentally for an experience, you sent you mind on it happening. If you're going to tell your family that you're moving out, you might want to prepare them by having them sit down. Are you prepared for their reaction? Are you prepared to defend your decision? You can prepare wood to be painted by cleaning and sanding it. And if you prepare dinner, you cook it.
Vocabulary lists containing prepare
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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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:
When it comes to snake handlers, you must prepare for tales that wriggle free of containment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
International calls for greater restrictions on autonomous weapons systems come as negotiators prepare to meet in Geneva in November to strengthen the existing Convention on Conventional Weapons.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
Farmers are asking people to be patient with the smell of manure as they spread it on their fields to prepare the land for next year's crops.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
Also, how do I prepare for market drops just before or after retirement?
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026
“We’re letting them use Ben to prepare their weather models,” said Monty.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
The stakes for the stock market are high as Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh prepares to deliver his first Jackson Hole speech since taking the helm at the U.S. central bank.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 27, 2026
Bhumbla’s appointment comes as Hormel prepares for its president John Ghingo to take on the additional post of chief executive, effective Oct.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Micron stock was slipping Monday as another Chinese memory-chip market prepares for an initial public offering.
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026
It comes as the party prepares to publish its 50-page plan on Monday for what Jenrick described as the "most comprehensive redesign of the welfare system's machinery in a generation".
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Then, as he prepares to get up to change the sheets, something catches his eye by Daphne’s bedside.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
“In that situation, I would be much more worried about the social response. To what extent are our populations prepared for this psychologically, I do not know.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
Sandusky said that Kushner was prepared for the ribbing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole speech left little doubt that the Fed is prepared to lift interest rates if necessary.
From Barron's ● Aug. 29, 2026
If you need cash, you need only make the distribution request and be prepared to pay the taxes and any applicable penalty.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026
I’d stayed out of Ba’s way as much as I could while he prepared for his trip.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Central Command said the Iranian launchers, which were deployed on Larak Island, were preparing to fire rockets filled with sea mines into the strait when they were struck.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026
Hannah considers gardening to be similar to preparing for a race.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
Forest are keen to strengthen before the end of the transfer window and, as reported by The Athletic, are preparing to offer £40m plus a potential sell-on clause to clinch a deal for Armstrong.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
“That cooperative agreement is about preparing safety protocols, infrastructure, and regulatory readiness for small modular reactor technology as it matures,” Hacegaba said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
They dug in the ash, mixing it with the soil, preparing the area for the possibility of new life to grow once more.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
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.
