equipped; equipping
Synonyms of equip

transitive verb

1
: to furnish for service or action by appropriate provisioning
equip an army
2
3
: to make ready : prepare
wasn't equipped to handle the pressures of the job

equip

2 of 2

abbreviation

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
All cabins come with a firepit equipped with a grill grate and a picnic table, while upgrading to an outdoor suite gets you a tarp for shade lined with string lights and an extremely comfortable hammock. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026 As a result, more institutions are now equipped to evaluate digital assets alongside other long-term portfolio exposures. Peter Mintzberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 Bringing home a dedicated Bose television soundbar equipped with angled spatial drivers, dialogue-boosting algorithms, and expandable bass ports for under $200 is an exceptional value, making this the ideal window to upgrade your movie nights. Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 27 Aug. 2026 It’s equipped with a camera to see and a microphone to hear, as well as tiny LiDAR sensors (like the ones spinning atop driverless cars) to keep it from bumping into things. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for equip

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of equip was in 1523

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Equip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equip. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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
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