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View synonyms for prepare

prepare

[ pri-pair ]

verb (used with object)

, pre·pared, pre·par·ing.
  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)

, pre·pared, pre·par·ing.
  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. be prepared
    be prepared foll by an infinitive to be willing and able (to do something)

    I'm not prepared to reveal these figures



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Derived Forms

  • preˈparer, noun

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Other Words From

  • pre·par·er noun
  • re·pre·pare verb (used with object) reprepared repreparing
  • un·pre·par·ing adjective

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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 )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of prepare1

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

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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.

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Example Sentences

The timing of Fraser’s promotion may have been helped along by federal regulators, who are preparing to reprimand Citigroup over its risk-management systems, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

From Fortune

The departure of Jacques, 48, who joined Rio in 2011, comes amid wider upheaval in the top ranks of the mining industry, as the sector prepares for a longer-term slowdown in demand from China and navigates moves to decarbonize the global economy.

From Fortune

This calendar includes 18 months, so prepare to use it for a while.

It’s easy to prepare and consume in a few minutes and you can eat more of what you want for your actual meal.

For much of that summer, his staff had been preparing to sign an international energy agreement during a summit in Warsaw.

Adults prepare food and drink dark sweet tea on the doorsteps of their homes as they watch their children playing.

Prepare a large bowl with water and ice along with a strainer.

Hitchcock's going on about English pork butchers and how best to prepare pork cracklings.

One morning I arrive about nine to prepare for our morning meeting.

Prepare for takeoff, because quality vacation time will certainly boost your mood.

She had left her chair, meaning to go indoors and prepare for supper before Tony actually arrived.

Prepare the table, behold in the watchtower them that eat and drink: arise, ye princes, take up the shield.

That will give us time to turn about us, and to prepare ourselves against similar unpleasant casualties.

For three days Black Sheep was shut in his own bedroom—to prepare his heart.

Lawrence, when the day was lost, rode back to prepare the hapless Europeans in the city for the hazard that now threatened.

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preparatory schoolprepared