Preparing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /pri-ˈper/ pre·pare

Meaning & Definition of Preparing

Preparing (verb)

  1. to make ready beforehand for some purpose, use, or activity
  2. to put in a proper state of mind
  3. to work out the details of, plan in advance

Preparing (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in introducing, readying

    similar: introducing, prefacing, readying, beginning, introductory, precursory, prefatory, prelim, preliminary, prelusive, preparative, preparatory, primary, premonitory, warning, basic, elementary, fundamental, ahead, early, former, preceding, previous, prior
    opposite: after, behind, following, subsequent

Preparing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make ready in advance

    "I think I have prepared myself well for this challenge"

    "we prepared the classroom for the important visitors by getting rid of some unsightly clutter"

    similar: fitting, fixing, grooming, laying, prepping, readying
    related: bracing, fortifying, girding, steeling, battening, gathering, gearing up, mounting, educating, indoctrinating, instructing, schooling, training, tutoring, booting (up), priming, arranging, setting, spreading, arming, equipping, forearming, furnishing, outfitting, providing, supplying, inclining, predisposing, drafting, drawing up, framing, warming (up)

  2. to make competent (as by training, skill, or ability) for a particular office or function

    "basic training is intended to prepare raw recruits for active duty in the military"

    similar: equipping, fitting, qualifying, readying, seasoning, training
    related: accustoming, adapting, adjusting, conditioning, grooming, habituating, shaping, tailoring, authorizing, entitling, empowering, enabling, educating, indoctrinating, instructing, schooling, teaching, tutoring

  3. to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form

    "the CEO asked his assistant to prepare a statement for the press"

    similar: casting, composing, crafting, drafting, drawing up, formulating, framing, putting together
    related: fabricating, fashioning, forming, molding, sculpturing, shaping, couching, expressing, phrasing, stating, verbalizing, wording, authoring, inditing, penning, writing, conceiving, concocting, devising, building, constructing, making, assembling, compounding, piecing (together), redrafting, reformulating, reframing

  4. to work out the details of (something) in advance

    "preparing an escape route in case of a fire"

    similar: arranging, blueprinting, budgeting, calculating, charting, choreographing, designing, framing, laying out, mapping (out), organizing, planning, projecting, scheming (out), shaping, strategizing (about)
    related: conspiring, contriving, devising, intriguing, machinating, plotting, putting up, concerting, getting up, drafting, outlining, sketching, aiming, figuring, having on, intending, meaning, contemplating, meditating, premeditating

Related Entry: Prepare (verb)

Prepare is a different word from Preparing. The synonyms below are for prepare, not for preparing.

  1. to make ready in advance

    "I think I have prepared myself well for this challenge"

    "we prepared the classroom for the important visitors by getting rid of some unsightly clutter"

    similar: fit, fix, groom, lay, prep, ready
    related: brace, fortify, gird, steel, batten, gather, gear up, mount, educate, indoctrinate, instruct, school, train, tutor, boot (up), prime, arrange, set, spread, arm, equip, forearm, furnish, outfit, provide, supply, incline, predispose, draft, draw up, frame, warm (up)

  2. to make competent (as by training, skill, or ability) for a particular office or function

    "basic training is intended to prepare raw recruits for active duty in the military"

    similar: equip, fit, qualify, ready, season, train
    related: accustom, adapt, adjust, condition, groom, habituate, shape, tailor, authorize, entitle, empower, enable, educate, indoctrinate, instruct, school, teach, tutor

  3. to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form

    "the CEO asked his assistant to prepare a statement for the press"

    similar: cast, compose, craft, draft, draw up, formulate, frame, put together
    related: fabricate, fashion, form, mold, sculpture, shape, couch, express, phrase, state, verbalize, word, author, indite, pen, write, conceive, concoct, devise, build, construct, make, assemble, compound, piece (together), redraft, reformulate, reframe

  4. to work out the details of (something) in advance

    "preparing an escape route in case of a fire"

    similar: arrange, blueprint, budget, calculate, chart, choreograph, design, frame, lay out, map (out), organize, plan, project, scheme (out), shape, strategize (about)
    related: conspire, contrive, devise, intrigue, machinate, plot, put up, concert, get up, draft, outline, sketch, aim, figure, have on, intend, mean, contemplate, meditate, premeditate

Related Entry: Preparing (for) (verb)

Preparing (for) is a different word from Preparing. The synonyms below are for preparing (for), not for preparing.

  1. as in pointing (for), training (with)

    similar: pointing (for), training (with), grooving, perfecting, refining, drilling, repeating, exercising, practicing, rehearsing, running over, working (at or on), reviewing, studying

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Preparing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Preparing:

introducing, prefacing, readying, beginning, introductory, precursory, prefatory, prelim, preliminary, prelusive, preparative, preparatory, primary, premonitory, warning, basic, elementary, fundamental, ahead, early, former, preceding, previous, prior, fitting, fixing, grooming, laying, prepping, equipping, qualifying, seasoning, training, casting, composing, crafting, drafting, drawing up, formulating, framing

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Preparing

Words with the opposite meaning of Preparing:

after, behind, following, subsequent

Related Words for Preparing

bracing, fortifying, girding, steeling, battening, gathering, gearing up, mounting, educating, indoctrinating, instructing, schooling, tutoring, booting (up), priming, setting, spreading, arming, forearming, furnishing, outfitting, providing, supplying, inclining, predisposing, warming (up), accustoming, adapting, adjusting, conditioning

Word Forms of Preparing

Inflections: prepared

Derived words: preparer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Preparing

Middle English preparen, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French preparer, borrowed from Latin praeparāre "to furnish beforehand, put in a state of readiness," from prae- pre- + parāre "to supply, provide, make ready" pare

First known use: 15th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Preparing

What does "Preparing" mean?

"Preparing" means to make ready beforehand for some purpose, use, or activity. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to make ready beforehand for some purpose, use, or activity. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Preparing"?

Other words for "Preparing" include introducing, prefacing, readying, beginning, introductory, precursory, prefatory and prelim. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Preparing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Preparing"?

There are 138 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Preparing". Common alternatives include introducing, prefacing, readying, beginning, introductory, precursory, prefatory, prelim, preliminary and prelusive.

What is the opposite of "Preparing"?

Antonyms of "Preparing" include after, behind, following and subsequent.

How do you use "Preparing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Preparing" in a sentence: "I think I have prepared myself well for this challenge"; "we prepared the classroom for the important visitors by getting rid of some unsightly clutter"; "basic training is intended to prepare raw recruits for active duty in the military".

Is "Preparing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Preparing" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Preparing"?

"Preparing" is pronounced /pri-ˈper/ and divided into syllables as pre·pare.

What is the origin of the word "Preparing"?

"Preparing" comes from Middle English preparen, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French preparer, borrowed from Latin praeparāre "to furnish beforehand, put in a state of readiness," from prae- pre- + parāre "to supply, provide, make ready" pare. First known use: 15th centuryt.