gear up
9 synonyms and 3 antonyms for gear up, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Phrasal verb — To get ready for something demanding that is about to happen, or to get other people or an organisation ready for it.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. phrasal verb
To get ready for something demanding that is about to happen, or to get other people or an organisation ready for it.
“Retailers are already gearing up for Christmas.”
Opposites
2. phrasal verb
To put on protective clothing or equipment before an activity.
“The crew geared up and went in through the smoke.”
3. phrasal verb British, finance
In finance, to increase the proportion of borrowed money used to fund a business or investment.
“The fund geared up heavily before the rates rose.”
Opposites
How to use gear up
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Informal to neutral. Almost always followed by for or to: gear up for a launch, gear up to expand.
