verb

prepare

prih-PEH-uh

verb

To make something or someone ready for a particular purpose or event.

"They spent weeks preparing for the wedding."

"He prepared a speech for the retirement party."

To make food ready for eating; to cook.

"She prepared a simple meal of pasta and salad."

How to Use Prepare

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo get something or someone ready, or to cook food.

Common pairings

prepare for prepare a meal be prepared to

Word Forms

prepared past tense, prepare plural, prepared plural, prepares singular, prepare singular, prepared singular, preparest singular, preparedst singular, prepareth singular

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He _____ a speech for the retirement party.

Etymology

Partly a back-formation from preparation, and partly borrowed from Middle French préparer, from Latin praeparare ("to make ready in advance"), from prae- ("before") plus parare ("to make ready").

Synonyms

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busk graith ready yark

Related Words

whip ready skilled inclined

Rhymes for prepare

are dare care hare mare fare bare rare ware gare share snare

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