prepare

verb

pre·​pare pri-ˈper 

prepared; preparing

transitive verb

1

a

: to make ready beforehand for some purpose, use, or activity

prepare food for dinner

b

: to put in a proper state of mind

is prepared to listen

2

: to work out the details of : plan in advance

preparing a campaign strategy

3

a

: to put together : compound

prepare a prescription

b

: to put into written form

prepare a report

intransitive verb

: to get ready

preparing for a career

preparer noun

Synonyms

• fit
• fix
• groom
• lay
• prep
• ready

Examples of prepare in a Sentence

The teacher prepared the students for the test.

Your room is being prepared now and should be ready soon.

The nurses prepared the patient for surgery.

Farmers are busy preparing the soil for planting.

They'll be arriving soon. We don't have much more time to prepare.

We don't have much more time to prepare ourselves for their arrival.

She tried to prepare herself for bad news.

The sailors are preparing themselves for a long voyage.

The pharmacist prepared the prescription.

Recent Examples on the Web

In October, the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers changed uniform colors to prepare for high temperatures at Levi’s Stadium. —Sam Joseph, The Athletic, 30 Jan. 2025

Samantha Montano, an assistant professor of emergency management at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, said the pause on assistance could effectively halt that agency’s programs that help state and local governments prepare for and recover from disasters. —Nicholas Kusnetz, WIRED, 29 Jan. 2025

Published in 2023, the story centers on a group of friends preparing for an epic summer together in the Stockholm archipelago. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2025

Edelman shared insight on how teams prepare not only for an opponent each week, but also the officiating crew. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English preparen, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French preparer, borrowed from Latin praeparāre "to furnish beforehand, put in a state of readiness," from prae- pre- + parāre "to supply, provide, make ready" — more at pare

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

prepare

verb

pre·​pare pri-ˈpa(ə)r 

-ˈpe(ə)r

prepared; preparing

1

: to make ready beforehand

prepared us for the news

prepare for a test

2

: to put together the elements of : compound

prepare a prescription

preparer noun

Medical Definition

prepare

transitive verb

pre·​pare pri-ˈpa(ə)r, -ˈpe(ə)r 

prepared; preparing

1

: to make ready beforehand

prepare a patient for surgery

2

: to put together : compound

prepared a vaccine from live virus

prepared the doctor's prescription