prep

1 of 3

noun

1
2
3
: a preliminary trial for a racehorse

prep

2 of 3

verb

prepped; prepping

intransitive verb

1
: to attend preparatory school
2
[short for prepare] : to get ready

transitive verb

: prepare
especially : to prepare for an operation or examination
nurses prepped the patient

PrEP

3 of 3

abbreviation

pre-exposure prophylaxis
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that PrEP, when used consistently, can reduce the risk of H.I.V. infection by up to 92 percent.Ginia Bellafante

Examples of prep in a Sentence

Noun Painting a room involves a lot of prep. Verb She spent all night prepping for the test. The runners are prepping themselves for the race. It took me about 20 minutes to prep the vegetables.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Deseret News’ 6A (large school) prep player of the year last season averaged 17.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game for a state championship team while making 60 3-pointers and shooting 39 percent behind the arc. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023 My prep process and reference points were different for each show. Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2023 Mount it on a wall next to the prep area or directly above the cooktop so pots and pans are easily within reach. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2023 Rowing Blazers builds upon an ironic interpretation of what prep style means today, nodding to the structural fashion influences, but incorporating a constantly growing milieu of inspiration. Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 29 Aug. 2023 This additional work adds to your overall prep load and time spent in the kitchen. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2023 Fast food cooks were the single fastest-growing job, followed by food prep workers. Ramsey Archibald | Rarchibald@al.com, al, 27 Aug. 2023 Carter came to Alabama as a prep cornerback and, in 50 games and 23 starts with the Crimson Tide, mainly played the star position, a hybrid spot that’s something like a strongside linebacker who can cover wide receivers. Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, 19 Aug. 2023 Email the prep sports desk at prepsports@enquirer.com. Alex Harrison, The Enquirer, 18 Aug. 2023
Verb
There are the obvious soups and stews, but slow cookers also tenderize tough cuts of meat, turn out tasty chicken and dumplings, and make Taco Tuesday prep a cinch. Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2023 Then the specialist will prep the area, cleaning the brows and applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly around them to prevent any accidental skin staining. Audrey Noble, Harper's BAZAAR, 6 Sep. 2023 Your makeup routine deserves a solid start, so prep your skin properly with the TLB Skin Set Primer, which is infused with rosewater for a comfortable, mattifying finish. Sarah Han, Allure, 30 Aug. 2023 IndyStar preps sports Insider Brian Haenchen gets you ready for the 2023 season. Brian Haenchen indianapolis Star, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Aug. 2023 Step 3: Plus Awake Essence Next, the Plus Essence preps the skin for the remainder of the treatment. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 30 Aug. 2023 The integrated bamboo cutting board fits on top of the base, which gives you somewhere to prep your meal even if there's no picnic table around. Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 30 Aug. 2023 What to expect during a professional visit A specialist will first prep the skin by cleaning off any makeup, oils, or lotions that may prevent wax from properly attaching to your hair. Audrey Noble, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 Aug. 2023 These snacks have the ideal amount of high-energy carbs that are tasty and easy to prep. Natalie Rizzo, Women's Health, 2 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prep.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1862, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1909, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prep was in 1862

Dictionary Entries Near prep

Cite this Entry

“Prep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prep. Accessed 26 Sep. 2023.

Medical Definition

prep

1 of 2 noun
: the act or an instance of preparing a patient for a surgical operation
the nurse had three preps to do

prep

2 of 2 transitive verb
prepped; prepping
: to prepare for a surgical operation or examination
prep the patient for an appendectomy

More from Merriam-Webster on prep

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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