preparedpre‧pared /prɪˈpeəd $ -ˈperd/ ●●○ adjective 
You have to be prepared to take risks in this kind of work. How much is she prepared to pay?2ready to deal with something [not before noun] ready to do something or deal with a situationprepared for I wasn’t prepared for all their questions.well/fully/inadequately etc prepared Luckily, we were well prepared for the storm.ill-prepared (=not ready to deal with a difficult situation) The country was ill-prepared to fight another war. There was no news and we were prepared for the worst (=expected something very bad).► see thesaurus at ready3I’m not prepared to do something spoken used when saying strongly that you refuse to do something: I’m not prepared to sit here and listen to this rubbish!4made earlier planned, made, or written at an earlier time, so that it is ready when it is needed: The president read out a prepared statement.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- I was not prepared for all the questions they asked.
- In a prepared statement, Riggs denied being responsible for the murder.
- The dining room is all prepared for our guests.
- The police were prepared for trouble.
- The team was well prepared and focussed on the issues.
- Further prepared sentences came readily to his lips.
- It is the holder of prepared fleece or flax from which the spinner draws out strands.
- Senior officers say more and more criminals are prepared to carry firearms in cash raids.
- The company had a nervous joiedevivre as it set off on the prepared road towards Auchonvillers.
- The most luxurious setting was a specially prepared Music Hall aboard ship.
- Unlike the Prime Minister, I am prepared to have a referendum on this fundamental constitutional issue.
THESAURUS
[not before noun] having done everything that needs to be done in order to prepare for something: · Are you ready? The taxi’s here.· I don’t feel that I’m ready for the test yet.
[not before noun] ready to deal with a situation, because you are expecting it or have made careful preparations: · The police were prepared for trouble.· The team looked well-prepared for the game.
to be ready to start doing something that you have planned to do, and be just about to do it: · We were all set for a barbecue when it started to rain.
American English informal be ready to start doing something after completing all the necessary preparations: · We just need to get you a pair of skis and you’re good to go.
ripe fruit are soft, sweet, and ready to eat: · Don’t pick the apples until they’re really ripe.· a delicious ripe plum
if the arrangements or the equipment for doing something are in place, they are ready to start being used: · The television cameras were in place for the wedding.· All the arrangements are in place for a new constitution and democratic elections.
if people are standing by, they are ready to take action and help if they are needed – used especially about medical teams, police, the army etc: · Officers in full riot gear were standing by outside the police station.· Several ambulances were standing by.
Longman Language Activatorto prepare yourself for something that you have to do to make yourself mentally and physically ready for something that you will have to do: · Before starting to write an answer in an exam, prepare yourself by thinking about what you want to say.prepare yourself for: · They prepared themselves for a long wait.· She has spent the last year preparing herself for the race.
if you are prepared for something unpleasant or difficult, you expect it and you have thought about it, so that you can deal with it more easily: · The children were seasick last time, so this time we're prepared .be prepared for: · I just wasn't prepared for such a difficult interview.be well prepared: · Clark's lawyers were well prepared and confident.
to do all the things you need to do in order to be ready to do something, especially things such as washing or dressing before you go somewhere: · You'd better go get ready - it's almost 8 o'clock.get ready to do something: · I was just getting ready to go out when Tim called.get yourself ready for something: · In the stadium, the sprinters are getting themselves ready for the 100-metre race.
to prepare yourself for something unpleasant that is about to happen: · Here comes the boss, and she's not looking happy! You'd better brace yourself!brace yourself for: · Socialist party leaders are bracing themselves for defeat.brace yourself to do something: · I didn't really want to hear the rest, but I braced myself to listen.
to prepare yourself to do something that you know will be upsetting, frightening, or unpleasant: · I had to steel myself before I could tell her about the accident.steel yourself to do something: · She steeled herself to look at the body again.steel yourself for: · Jim steeled himself for a fight.
informal to prepare yourself mentally for something difficult by making yourself believe that you can do it and that you really want to do it: · I tried to psych myself up before the interview.psych yourself up for: · A lot of athletes use music to psych themselves up for a game.
to prepare yourself to do something that you do not want to do, by gradually making yourself more and more determined to do it: · I haven't asked him yet, but I'm working up to it.work up to doing something: · She's been working up to telling her boyfriend it's over.
especially British to prepare yourself mentally for something such as a test or important game, by gradually making yourself believe that you can do it successfully: · The game's on Friday, so we're starting to gear ourselves up during training.gear yourself up for: · He's been gearing himself up for his exams over the past few weeks.
when you are ready to do something if you are ready for something, you have done everything that needs to be done in order to prepare for it: · Are you ready? The taxi's here.· When everyone is ready, I'll give the signal to start.ready for: · I don't feel that I'm ready for the test yet.ready to do something: · Everything is packed and we're ready to leave.get ready (=prepare yourself to do something): · That's settled then. I'll go and get ready.· My sister always spends hours getting ready to go out.· It was soon time for the actors to get ready for the evening performance.ready and waiting: · The wedding guests were all ready and waiting long before the bride arrived.ready when you are (=I am ready to do something as soon as you are): · "Shall we go then?" "Yes, ready when you are."
ready to deal with a situation, because you were expecting it or because you have made careful preparations: prepared for: · The police were prepared for trouble.· I was not prepared for all the questions they asked.well prepared: · The team was well prepared and focussed on the issues.
to be ready and eager to start doing something: · On Christmas Day, the kids are always up and ready to go at 6 o'clock.· If everyone's ready to go, let's get started.
to be ready to start doing something that you have planned to do and want to do: · Dad got on his bike. "Are you all set?" he called.be all set for: · The team are all set for another comfortable victory.be all set to do something: · We were all set to start the barbecue when it started to rain.
if an organization or group of people are geared up for something that is going to happen, they have made careful plans so that they can deal with it as soon as it happens: be geared up for: · There are clear signs that the governor is geared up for a second attempt at the White House.be geared up to do something: · Companies that survive are the ones that are geared up to meet the demands of the future.get geared up: · The airport was getting geared up to deal with a heavier schedule of flights.
if you do something in readiness for something that you expect will happen, you do it so that you will be ready: · As the conflict grew worse, troops waited in readiness at the borders.in readiness for: · A new stage and seating area has been built in readiness for tonight's sell-out performance.
spoken used to tell someone who is impatient for you to do something that you will not do it until your are ready: · Dad says he'll come when he's good and ready.· Leave me alone! I'll tell her when I'm good and ready.
American spoken to have completed all the necessary preparations and be ready to start doing something: · We just need to get you a pair of skis and you're good to go.· "Do you have all the hiking gear?" "Yeah, I'm good to go."
to be in a suitable condition to be ready for something, especially a positive change: · Economists regard the region as being ripe for development.· After the divorce I was thoroughly fed up and ripe for a new start, so I agreed to take the job.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Luckily, we were well prepared for the storm. There was no news and we were prepared for the worst (=expected something very bad). The president read out a prepared statement.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Luckily, we were well prepared for the storm. (=not ready to deal with a difficult situation) The country was ill-prepared to fight another war.
The country was ill-prepared to fight another war. There was no news and we were prepared for the worst (=expected something very bad). The president read out a prepared statement.· She was willing to admit that she’d made a mistake.
(=be prepared to do something whenever it is necessary) We should stand ready to do what is necessary to guarantee the peace.
We should stand ready to do what is necessary to guarantee the peace. (=one that is prepared and then read out)· His solicitor read a prepared statement on his behalf.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· The clinic means everyone will be better prepared should any other problems arise.· This last time I was better prepared.· They were no better prepared for what followed.· I vowed that my children would be better prepared when they left home.· With these items in the house, I was better prepared than most.
· The unit in which he will live is within the hospital grounds, and was most carefully prepared and equipped.· Public rooms include a lounge, two bars, and restaurant offering a wide choice of carefully prepared food.· A pang shot through him and his carefully prepared speech about selling the hunter died on his lips.· It jolts your carefully prepared and placed microphone out of position and may wobble the lectern as well.· All the carefully prepared summaries and analyses were not worth the paper they were printed on.· No trouble was spared to ensure that the carefully prepared seed-bed was ready to take the crop.· From this he emerged in Antwerp in 1535 with plenty of money and a carefully prepared plan for Tyndale's destruction.
· Enjoy the freshly prepared food and a high degree of personal attention.· Lachana Vegetarian Restaurant Freshly prepared vegetarian and vegan meals in a friendly non-smoking atmosphere.
· The firm will arrange for a customer to have their particular message printed on specially prepared cards.· The alchemist would burn incense and douse himself in specially prepared perfumes before carrying out his experiments.· We also follow specially prepared bike routes, with little or no traffic.· The most luxurious setting was a specially prepared Music Hall aboard ship.· Mike will now have to feed his hives with a specially prepared solution of sugar and water.· Silverpoint must be worked on to a specially prepared ground.
· Fred Clasper's disruptive plan had been well prepared.· Very well prepared and laid out.· The snow did not return until early in February: this time, the Oaks were well prepared.· If your skiing is anything like as extreme as the conditions you will need to be well prepared.· The catalogue was well prepared and the historical notes excellent.· The First Sonata is no less well prepared and sympathetically interpreted.· Soil should be free-draining and well prepared, with plenty of compost - keep plants watered during the first season.· Bleached boards can look quite spectacular provided the surface has been well prepared.
NOUN· I now wean them on to prepared food.· Enjoy the freshly prepared food and a high degree of personal attention.· Others, however, are convinced that it is easier to provide each child with a box of prepared food.· I don't eat prepared food myself, so I have never liked it for my terrier.· Public rooms include a lounge, two bars, and restaurant offering a wide choice of carefully prepared food.· Tort considers such things as the caterer's liability for negligently prepared food which causes injury to the customer.· They spread their bedrolls whilst Ratagan and Isay prepared food for the company.· They sell prepared food, buy property and rent rooms, do hairdressing, sewing and make handicrafts.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► (be prepared to) go to the stake for/over something
- Griffiths was prepared to spend up to $500,000 to renovate the old theater.
- He was prepared to use force if necessary.
- The Pentagon is prepared to build an emergency camp for refugees.
- You'll never learn to speak another language unless you're prepared to make an effort.
- But, as a scientist, she was and is prepared to tolerate this drive while it lasts without satisfying it.
- He was prepared to talk with complete honesty about it.
- He was very busy but he was prepared to see me because Lynda had recommended me.
- It is very thorough but requires the user to be prepared to look in depth at each technical area of painting.
- My sister can never understand what I am prepared to do for her, for our welfare.
- Now sadder but wiser, we are prepared to admit that the implementation of curriculum change is a complicated business.
- Now, because she needed something from him, she was prepared to give in.
- Or be prepared to go home without it.
- I'm not prepared to let them take my business without a fight.
- After the church service he was conducted to a house ready prepared, where a regal feast was laid before him.
- Anyone who has given online demonstrations and experienced systems breakdown, will appreciate the advantage of having alternative ready prepared demonstration material!
- Brownie albums were provided, with spaces ready prepared for slotting in a sequence of the snapshots.
- But fresh potatoes are less expensive than many of the dehydrated and ready prepared and frozen products.
- Freezer: Pack of steaks, beefburgers, fish-fingers, peas, runner beans, ready cooked curry meal, cod.
- Microwave combination ovens can successfully prime cook fresh and frozen foods and regenerate ready cooked dishes from chilled and frozen.
- But one must be suitably dressed for a country visit and I had absolutely nothing fit to wear.
- They, too, regardless of the loss of their leader, were intent on being suitably dressed for Bank Holiday.
WORD FAMILYnounpreparationpreparationspreparednessadjectiveprepared ≠ unpreparedpreparatoryverbprepare
1be prepared to do something to be willing to do something, especially something difficult or something that you do not usually do: You have to be prepared to take risks in this kind of work. How much is she prepared to pay?2ready to deal with something [not before noun] ready to do something or deal with a situationprepared for I wasn’t prepared for all their questions.well/fully/inadequately etc prepared Luckily, we were well prepared for the storm.ill-prepared (=not ready to deal with a difficult situation) The country was ill-prepared to fight another war. There was no news and we were prepared for the worst (=expected something very bad).► see thesaurus at ready3I’m not prepared to do something spoken used when saying strongly that you refuse to do something: I’m not prepared to sit here and listen to this rubbish!4made earlier planned, made, or written at an earlier time, so that it is ready when it is needed: The president read out a prepared statement.