prepare — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To make ready for a specific future purpose; to set up; to assemble or equip; to forearm.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   We prepared the spacecraft for takeoff.

   that they may prepare a city for habitation

   More examples (1)

   our souls, not yet prepared for upper light

2. To make ready for eating or drinking; to cook.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   We prepared a fish for dinner.

3. To make oneself ready; to get ready, make preparation.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Synonyms

   get

   Examples

   We prepared for a bumpy ride.

   More examples (2)

   As soon as Julia returned with a constable, Timothy, who was on the point of exhaustion, prepared to give over to him gratefully. The newcomer turned out to be a powerful youngster, fully trained and eager to help, and he stripped off his tunic at once.

   Tourists visited a memorial hall adorned by a slogan in the handwriting of Chiang Kai-shek, Taiwan's divisive former nationalist leader: "Stay alert and prepare for battle."

4. To produce or make by combining elements; to synthesize, compound.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   She prepared a meal from what was left in the cupboards.

Noun

1. preparation

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   Go levy men, and make prepare for war;

Verb

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

   Synonyms

   fixset upreadygear upset

   Broader terms

   changealtermodify

   Examples

   Get the children ready for school!

   prepare for war

   More examples (1)

   I was fixing to leave town after I paid the hotel bill

2. prepare for eating by applying heat

   Synonyms

   cookfixreadymake

   Broader terms

   create from raw materialcreate from raw stuff

   Examples

   Cook me dinner, please

   can you make me an omelette?

   More examples (1)

   fix breakfast for the guests, please

3. to prepare verbally, either for written or spoken delivery

   Broader terms

   makecreate

   Examples

   prepare a report

   prepare a speech

4. arrange by systematic planning and united effort

   Synonyms

   organizeorganisedeviseget upmachinate

   Broader terms

   initiatepioneer

   Examples

   machinate a plot

   organize a strike

   More examples (1)

   devise a plan to take over the director's office

5. educate for a future role or function

   Synonyms

   groomtrain

   Broader terms

   educate

   Examples

   He is grooming his son to become his successor

   The prince was prepared to become King one day

   More examples (1)

   They trained him to be a warrior

6. create by training and teaching

   Synonyms

   traindevelopeducate

   Broader terms

   teachlearninstruct

   Examples

   The old master is training world-class violinists

   we develop the leaders for the future

7. lead up to and soften by sounding the dissonant note in it as a consonant note in the preceding chord

   Broader terms

   sound

   Examples

   prepare the discord in bar 139

8. undergo training or instruction in preparation for a particular role, function, or profession

   Synonyms

   train

   Broader terms

   learnstudyreadtake

   Examples

   She is training to be a teacher

   He trained as a legal aid