prepare
HighNeutral (used across formal, informal, business, and academic contexts)
Definition
Meaning
to make something ready for use or for an event; to make yourself ready to do something.
In a psychological or emotional sense, to mentally brace oneself for a difficult situation; in a professional context, to create or develop something through planning and research.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word implies proactive effort and planning. It can be transitive (prepare a meal) or intransitive (prepare for an exam). The preposition 'for' is strongly associated with its intransitive use.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Minor preferences in collocations may exist.
Connotations
Neutral in both variants.
Frequency
Equally frequent and essential in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] prepare [NP] (transitive)[NP] prepare for [NP] (intransitive with preposition)[NP] prepare [NP] for [NP] (complex transitive)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “prepare the ground”
- “prepare the way”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for planning projects, reports, meetings, and strategies.
Academic
Common in discussing research, experiments, essays, and exam revision.
Everyday
Used for meals, trips, events, and general readiness.
Technical
Used in scientific contexts for preparing samples, solutions, or data.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We need to prepare the guest room for our visitors.
- The team is preparing for a crucial match next Saturday.
- She prepared a brilliant presentation for the board.
American English
- You should prepare your taxes before April.
- The city is preparing for a major storm.
- He prepared the contract for our review.
adverb
British English
- N/A (The adverb is 'preparedly', but it is extremely rare and not recommended for learners.)
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The prepared statement was read to the press.
- We ate a prepared meal from the supermarket.
American English
- Always have a prepared answer for that question.
- The kit contains prepared slides for the microscope.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I prepare breakfast every morning.
- The students are preparing for a test.
- Could you please prepare a short summary of the article?
- We spent weeks preparing for our holiday.
- The lawyer prepared her client for the tough questioning.
- The committee is preparing the ground for a change in policy.
- The research team meticulously prepared the samples for isotopic analysis.
- Diplomats worked to prepare a joint statement that would satisfy all parties.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a chef who is a 'PRE-PARER'—they do things BEFORE (PRE) to get food ready for the dinner (PARER from 'pare' meaning to trim/make ready).
Conceptual Metaphor
READINESS IS A JOURNEY (We prepare for the journey ahead); CREATION IS PREPARATION (A meal is prepared).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'приготовить' which is narrower (often just cooking). 'Prepare' is broader, covering mental, physical, and logistical readiness. Avoid using 'prepare' + infinitive directly (e.g., 'prepare to go' is correct, but the Russian construction is different).
Common Mistakes
- Omitting 'for' in intransitive use: 'I must prepare the meeting' (wrong) vs. 'I must prepare for the meeting' (correct).
- Confusing 'prepare' with 'repair'.
- Using the wrong preposition: 'prepare to something' is rare; 'prepare for something' is standard.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'prepare' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Prepare' (transitive) means to make something else ready. 'Prepare for' (intransitive) means to get yourself or a system ready to face a future event or situation.
Yes, but usually with an implied context. 'I need to prepare' is correct if it's clear what you are preparing for (e.g., a party, an exam). Otherwise, 'prepare for something' is more complete.
Yes, the past participle 'prepared' is very commonly used as an adjective meaning 'ready' or 'made in advance', as in 'Be prepared!' or 'prepared food'.
The most common preposition is 'for' ('prepare for an event'). 'Prepare' can also be followed by an infinitive ('prepare to leave'), which emphasizes the imminent action itself rather than the general event.
Collections
Part of a collection
Food and Cooking
A2 · 50 words · Cooking methods, kitchen tools and recipes.