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

Delivering droplets onto the parched crops requires meticulous preparation to identify suitable clouds.

From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026

Take, for example, a runner whose preparation for a race has gone perfectly and who is confident and raring to go.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

Announcing his return at the European Championships in Birmingham, Ingebrigtsen wrote: "If you're waiting for the perfect preparation, perfect conditions, perfect timing, you'll be waiting your whole life."

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

Visiting one celebrated restaurant in San Francisco, he describes the preparation of commercially farmed abalone steaks as someone who knows his way around a commercial kitchen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

So they are removing it in preparation for taking Cleo away.

From "The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle" by Dan Gutman

The Moroccan economy grew by five percent in 2025, with the country investing heavily in infrastructure, especially around preparations for the 2030 World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal.

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

There is a need to double down on preparations and equipment on land that is inherently hostile due to the harsh Arctic conditions.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

At hearing after hearing, we arrived with preparations for multiple outcomes.

From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026

For some clubs, that leaves barely enough time to welcome players back from the mandatory three-week post-tournament break required under Fifa regulations, let alone integrate them into pre-season preparations.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

We are in our last week of preparations for the spring expositions, and the maestra has given me a song from the aria book, a song of courage and passion: "Vittoria, mio core" by Carissimi.

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper

Related Words

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