equip

1 of 2

verb

i-ˈkwip 

equipped; equipping

transitive verb

1

: to furnish for service or action by appropriate provisioning

equip an army

2

: dress, array

3

: to make ready : prepare

wasn't equipped to handle the pressures of the job

equip

2 of 2

abbreviation

equipment

Synonyms of equip

Verb

• prepare
• qualify

Choose the Right Synonym for equip

furnish, equip, outfit, appoint, accoutre mean to supply one with what is needed.

furnish implies the provision of any or all essentials for performing a function.

a sparsely furnished apartment

equip suggests the provision of something making for efficiency in action or use.

a fully equipped kitchen

outfit implies provision of a complete list or set of articles as for a journey, an expedition, or a special occupation.

outfitted the family for a ski trip

appoint implies provision of complete and usually elegant or elaborate equipment or furnishings.

a lavishly appointed apartment

accoutre suggests the supplying of personal dress or equipment for a special activity.

fully accoutred members of a polar expedition

Examples of equip in a Sentence

Verb

More money was needed to train and equip the troops.

Equipped with a hoe and a shovel, I headed for the garden.

Her training has equipped her to deal with emergencies.

She is well-equipped to deal with emergencies.

Those students are not equipped for the challenges of college.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The sinking of the flagship Moskva, for example, showed that even a ship equipped with layered air defenses was vulnerable to an adversary’s kill chain. — Holmes Liao, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026

There’s no question, though, that, as a person, he is equipped for the job — and then some. — Josh Yohe, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Sales at the Swiss-American group were falling after a brief pandemic boom, when consumers had rushed to equip their home offices, and one of its co-founders had publicly voiced concern about the company’s future. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026

The directors of the Jackson County Election Board on Friday made clear that they are equipped to comply with a Missouri Supreme Court decision blocking the state’s gerrymandered congressional map from being used in November. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

modification of Anglo-French eskiper, eschiper to load on board a ship, embark, outfit, man, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English scipian equip a ship, scip ship

First Known Use

Verb

1523, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing equip

• re-equip

Rhymes for equip

• airship
• airstrip
• clerkship
• courtship
• filmstrip
• flagship
• headship
• heirship
• judgeship
• kinship
• lightship
• midship

Kids Definition

equip

verb

i-ˈkwip

equipped; equipping

1

: to provide with the necessary materials or supplies for service or action

2

: to make ready : prepare