prepare

verb

pre·​pare pri-ˈper How to pronounce prepare (audio)
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

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 High Point University's CARE Curriculum incorporates technology literacy and entrepreneurship to prepare future oral health physicians. Mariya Filipova, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024 Cross-country City Section and Southern Section teams continue to prepare for the big meets ahead in cross-country. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024 Yellowstone National Park, for example, closes several roads to prepare for colder temperatures and bad weather; and Glacier National Park closes parts of its popular 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road during the winter and spring. Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2024 When its time to file your taxes, Direct File will ask you a series of questions to prepare your federal tax return. Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prepare 

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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of prepare was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near prepare

Cite this Entry

“Prepare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prepare. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

prepare

verb
pre·​pare pri-ˈpa(ə)r How to pronounce prepare (audio)
-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
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

More from Merriam-Webster on prepare

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