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Definition of prepare verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

prepare

verb
 
/prɪˈpeə(r)/
 
/prɪˈper/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they prepare
 
/prɪˈpeə(r)/
 
/prɪˈper/
he / she / it prepares
 
/prɪˈpeəz/
 
/prɪˈperz/
past simple prepared
 
/prɪˈpeəd/
 
/prɪˈperd/
past participle prepared
 
/prɪˈpeəd/
 
/prɪˈperd/
-ing form preparing
 
/prɪˈpeərɪŋ/
 
/prɪˈperɪŋ/
Idioms
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  1. [transitive, intransitive] to make something or somebody ready to be used or to do something
    • prepare something/somebody to prepare a report
    • prepare something/somebody for somebody/something A hotel room is being prepared for them.
    • The college prepares students for a career in business.
    • prepare somebody/something to do something The training has prepared me to deal with any medical issue.
    • prepare for something We all set about preparing for the party.
    Extra Examples
    • I haven't had time to prepare my arguments properly.
    • The lectures were carefully prepared.
    • to prepare students for exams
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • adequately
    • properly
    • fully
    verb + prepare
    • help (somebody)
    • help (somebody) to
    • need to
    preposition
    • according to
    • for
    phrases
    • prepare for the worst
    • time to prepare (something)
    See full entry
  2. [intransitive, transitive] to make yourself ready to do something or for something that you expect to happen
    • I had no time to prepare.
    • prepare for something The whole class is working hard preparing for the exams.
    • prepare yourself for something The police are preparing themselves for trouble at the demonstration.
    • I had been preparing myself for this moment.
    • Her condition is not improving as we hoped. You must prepare yourselves for the worst.
    • prepare yourself As I waited, I closed my eyes to mentally prepare myself.
    • prepare to do something I was preparing to leave.
    • prepare yourself to do something The troops prepared themselves to go into battle.
    Extra Examples
    • How do you go about mentally preparing yourself for a project?
    • Penn needs to prepare for a medical school interview.
    • The family are preparing for the worst.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • adequately
    • properly
    • fully
    verb + prepare
    • help (somebody)
    • help (somebody) to
    • need to
    preposition
    • according to
    • for
    phrases
    • prepare for the worst
    • time to prepare (something)
    See full entry
  3. [transitive] prepare something to make food ready to be eaten
    • He was in the kitchen preparing lunch.
    • to prepare meals/food/dinner
    Extra Examples
    • I was busily preparing a salad for the evening meal.
    • Just prepare according to package directions.
    • a meal that is very quick and easy to prepare
    • a table full of specially prepared food
    • She had prepared a chicken casserole for dinner.
    • The women were busy preparing the wedding feast.
    Topics Cooking and eatinga1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • adequately
    • properly
    • fully
    verb + prepare
    • help (somebody)
    • help (somebody) to
    • need to
    preposition
    • according to
    • for
    phrases
    • prepare for the worst
    • time to prepare (something)
    See full entry
  4. [transitive] prepare something (from something) to make a medicine or chemical substance, for example by mixing other substances together
    • remedies prepared from herbal extracts
  5. Word Originlate Middle English: from French préparer or Latin praeparare, from prae ‘before’ + parare ‘make ready’.
Idioms
prepare the ground (for something)
  1. to make it possible or easier for something to be achieved
    • The committee will prepare the ground for next month's meeting.
    • Early experiments with rockets prepared the ground for space travel.
See prepare in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee prepare in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
pepper
noun
 
 
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