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

She was temporarily kept on life support to prepare her organs for donation. —Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 24 Apr. 2024

Prosecutors are preparing for Towns' trial to start as soon as August, though no date has been set, said District Attorney Tim Vaughn of the Oconee Judicial Circuit, which includes Telfair County. —CBS News, 24 Apr. 2024

That leaves the grid more open to sabotage than those in many other European nations and Sweden must be prepared for disruptions, according to Vera van Zoest, associate senior lecturer at the Swedish Defence University. —Lars Paulsson, Fortune Europe, 24 Apr. 2024

Researchers warned that, as temperatures rise, humans should prepare for more diarrhea. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 24 Apr. 2024

After the death of his mother was confirmed, Carmel’s family began preparing for shiva, the Jewish ritual of mourning. —Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024

Patches of rocks sit on the beach near the pier as workers prepare the area to receive new sand in San Clemente, CA, on Monday, April 22, 2024. —Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 23 Apr. 2024

The theft was reported in February, when the victims’ daughter was preparing tax documents. —Jason Green, The Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2024

One segment shows her and Krishna each preparing a special toast with toppings for the other to try. —Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2024

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