DictionaryAI

prepare

Saypri-PAIR/pɹɪˈpɛ(ə)ɹ/UK/pɹɪˈpɛə/

Formsprepares, preparing, prepared

4 meanings of prepare

Practice

  1. 1
    get readyverbtransitive or intransitive
    To make someone or something ready, or to get yourself ready, for something that will happen.

    Like packing your bag the night before a trip.

    We prepare the room before every meeting.

    She prepared her notes for the big presentation.

    UsageSay prepare something for an event, or prepare for it. Prepare to go means get ready to go.

    Note
  2. 2
    cookverbtransitive
    To make food or drink ready to eat or drink, for example by cooking it.

    I prepare lunch for my kids every day.

    He prepared a big dinner for the whole family.

    Similarcook, make, fix

  3. 3
    make (chemistry)verbtransitive
    To make something by mixing different parts or materials together.

    Students prepare a salt by mixing two solutions.

    The lab prepared a new dye from simple chemicals.

    Similarsynthesize, produce, make, formulate

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    nounobsolete
    The act of getting ready for something.
    Go levy men, and make prepare for war;
    c. 1591, William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt,”Here, prepare means preparation, getting ready.
    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of prepare apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

This word comes partly from 'preparation' and partly from Latin 'praeparare', meaning 'to make ready in advance', from 'prae-' (pre-) plus 'parare' (make ready).

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

  • Prepare comes partly from preparation and partly, through Middle French, from Latin praeparare. en.wiktionary.org
  • Latin praeparare means to make ready in advance and consists of prae- plus parare, meaning make ready. en.wiktionary.org