equip
B1Neutral to Formal (Common in technical, business, and everyday contexts)
Definition
Meaning
to provide someone or something with the necessary items, tools, or skills for a particular purpose or task.
to furnish or prepare someone/something mentally, physically, or materially with what is needed; to make something suitable or ready for a future situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a deliberate, one-time action of providing necessary resources or capabilities. The result is a state of being 'equipped'. Can be used both literally (physical items) and metaphorically (knowledge, skills).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Spelling: past tense is 'equipped', present participle is 'equipping' in both. American English may use 'equip with' slightly more frequently for complex systems.
Connotations
Identical. No significant connotative differences.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SBJ + equip + OBJ + with + NP (We equipped the office with new computers.)SBJ + equip + OBJ + for + NP/V-ing (The course equipped her for a career in IT.)SBJ + equip + OBJ + to-INF (His training equipped him to handle emergencies.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Equipped to the teeth”
- “Equipped for bear”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to providing staff, offices, or facilities with necessary resources (e.g., 'The firm equipped all employees with laptops.').
Academic
Used literally for labs and resources, or metaphorically for providing knowledge (e.g., 'The theory equips students to analyze complex texts.').
Everyday
Common for discussing preparing for trips, hobbies, or home improvements (e.g., 'We need to equip the kitchen with better pans.').
Technical
Specific to installing machinery, software, or systems (e.g., 'The aircraft is equipped with the latest radar.').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The school is fundraising to equip the new science lab.
- They kitted out the expedition properly.
- The army unit was fully equipped for desert warfare.
American English
- The company will equip all employees with new software.
- We need to outfit the workshop with better tools.
- The training equipped her to manage the team effectively.
adjective
British English
- The well-equipped gym has all the latest machines.
- It's a fully-equipped mobile medical unit.
American English
- The newly-equipped conference room has great tech.
- They own a poorly-equipped fishing boat.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The hotel room is equipped with a TV.
- We equipped our tent with a small lamp.
- The teacher equipped the children with pencils.
- The kitchen is not well equipped for baking.
- He equipped himself with a map before the hike.
- The course equips students with basic computer skills.
- The government failed to equip the hospitals adequately for the pandemic.
- Her degree in engineering equipped her to solve complex technical problems.
- The car comes equipped with advanced safety features as standard.
- The new legislation is designed to equip regulators with more robust enforcement powers.
- His extensive travels had equipped him with a nuanced understanding of cultural diplomacy.
- The research vessel is equipped with state-of-the-art sonar for mapping the ocean floor.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a QUIP (a witty remark). To be ready with a good quip, you must be EQUIPped with quick thinking.
Conceptual Metaphor
PREPARATION IS PROVISION OF TOOLS (e.g., 'Equip your mind with knowledge.'), READINESS IS BEING ARMED.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as "экипировать" only for clothing/sport; English 'equip' is broader (e.g., equip a room, equip with skills).
- Don't confuse with 'install' (установить). 'Equip' focuses on providing the item, not the act of fitting it.
- Beware of false friend 'equipment' (оборудование) leading to overuse of 'equip' for simple 'provide' or 'give'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *They equipped the software. (Correct: They installed the software or equipped the computer with software.)
- Incorrect: *I will equip a new job. (Correct: I will prepare for a new job.)
- Incorrect preposition: *equip by tools. (Correct: equip with tools.)
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'equip' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Equip' specifically means to provide with what is needed for a particular purpose or function, often implying a complete set of tools or capabilities. 'Provide' is more general and can refer to supplying anything.
Yes, it's very common in metaphors. E.g., 'Education equips you with critical thinking skills.' It means to furnish or prepare someone mentally.
The most common is 'with' (equip with tools). You also use 'for' (equip for battle/journey) and 'to' + infinitive (equip to succeed).
No. The standard past tense and past participle is 'equipped'. 'Equipt' is an archaic spelling no longer in use.