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

Inside Purdue’s robotics testbed Much of the development will take place inside Purdue’s Hicks Robotics and Autonomy Testbed, a 13,000+ square-foot facility equipped with humanoid robots, quadrupeds, aerial drones, and advanced sensor platforms. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 27 Dec. 2025

Visitors planning a picnic can reserve one of the park pavilions—each equipped with water, electricity, and six tables—for $35 per day by calling the ranger station at 352-493-6072. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025

Utilize fog lights if your vehicle is equipped with them. —Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 27 Dec. 2025

The result is a bird that isn’t well-equipped to adapt to climate change and whose numbers are already plummeting, reducing its ability to adapt even more. —Maggie Koerth, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025

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
• gunship
• headship
• heirship
• judgeship
• kinship
• lightship

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