Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):

   • To make ready or suitable in advance for a particular purpose or event: This is the core meaning, involving taking action to get something or someone ready for a future use or occurrence.
   • To make (food or a meal) ready for eating by combining ingredients and applying heat: This specific usage relates to cooking.
   • To create or produce by combining elements or following a procedure: This involves the act of putting something together, such as a document or a substance.
   • To make (someone) ready or able to do or deal with something: This involves training, instructing, or mentally conditioning a person.

2. Verb (Intransitive):

   • To make oneself ready for something; to engage in preparation: This refers to the action one takes to get ready for a future event.

Usage Examples

• Verb (Transitive):

  • The teacher asked the students to prepare their homework for the next class. (The teacher asked the students to make their homework ready.)
  • She needs to prepare a presentation for the board meeting. (She needs to create a presentation.)
  • He is preparing dinner for his family. (He is cooking dinner.)
  • The coach is preparing the team for the championship. (The coach is training the team to be ready.)

• Verb (Intransitive):

  • We must prepare for the storm. (We must make ourselves ready for the storm.)
  • She spent weeks preparing for her final exams. (She spent weeks getting ready for her exams.)

Advanced Usage

• "to prepare the ground (for something)": To create the necessary conditions for something to happen or be successful.
  • The initial negotiations prepared the ground for a lasting peace treaty.
• "to be prepared to (do something)": To be willing and ready to do something.
  • I am prepared to help you with the project.
• "to prepare oneself (for something)": To make a conscious mental or emotional effort to be ready for something.
  • He tried to prepare himself for the bad news.

Variants and Related Words

• Preparation (n): The action or process of making ready or being made ready.
  • The preparation for the event took months.
• Preparatory (adj): Serving as or carrying out preparation.
  • He attended a preparatory course before university.
• Prepared (adj): Made ready in advance.
  • Always be prepared for an emergency.

Synonyms

• Arrange: To put things in a neat, attractive, or required order.
• Organize: To arrange systematically.
• Plan: To decide on and arrange in advance.
• Make ready: To get something prepared.
• Devise: To plan or invent by careful thought.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Prepare for: (Intransitive) To make ready for a specific event or possibility.
  • Citizens were advised to prepare for heavy snowfall.
• Prepare against: (Less common) To make ready as a defense or safeguard.
  • The castle was prepared against a long siege.

Related Idioms

• Hope for the best, prepare for the worst: To remain optimistic but make practical plans for potential problems.
  • When starting a business, you should hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
• Prepare the way: Similar to "prepare the ground," meaning to make it easier for something to happen.
  • His research prepared the way for future discoveries.

Verb

1. undergo training or instruction in preparation for a particular role, function, or profession
   • She is training to be a teacher
   • He trained as a legal aid
2. lead up to and soften by sounding the dissonant note in it as a consonant note in the preceding chord
   • prepare the discord in bar 139
3. create by training and teaching
   • The old master is training world-class violinists
   • we develop the leaders for the future
4. educate for a future role or function
   • He is grooming his son to become his successor
   • The prince was prepared to become King one day
   • They trained him to be a warrior
5. arrange by systematic planning and united effort
   • machinate a plot
   • organize a strike
   • devise a plan to take over the director's office
6. to prepare verbally, either for written or spoken delivery
   • prepare a report
   • prepare a speech
7. prepare for eating by applying heat
   • Cook me dinner, please
   • can you make me an omelette?
   • fix breakfast for the guests, please
8. make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc
   • Get the children ready for school!
   • prepare for war
   • I was fixing to leave town after I paid the hotel bill