1
general::
to prepare for an event
prepare
to make plans or arrangements for something that will happen in the future so that you will be ready when it happens:
• He only had a few hours to prepare for the interview. • The family are preparing to move to Queensland.
get ready
to prepare for something. Get ready is less formal than prepare and is the usual phrase to use in everyday English:
• Smith has been busy getting ready for the race. • The army was getting ready to attack.
make preparations
to prepare for an event that needs a lot of planning:
• The couple are making preparations for their wedding next year.
gear up
to prepare for an important event – used about companies, organizations, cities etc:
• Stores are gearing up for the busy Christmas shopping period. • The city is gearing up for the Olympics.
to prepare something so it can be used
prepare
to make something ready to be used:
• Have you prepared your speech? • Groundsmen were preparing the pitch for tomorrow’s game.
get something ready
to prepare something. Get something ready is less formal than prepare and is the usual phrase to use in everyday English:
• They were getting the ship ready to sail.
set (something) up
to prepare equipment so that it is ready to be used:
• It will take a few minutes to set the camera up. • The band was setting up on the stage.
Longman-Thesaurus
2
general::
verb ADV. properly, well | fully | badly, inadequately, poorly | adequately | carefully, painstakingly | specially a table full of specially prepared food VERB + PREPARE help (sb), help (sb) to | fail to He had failed to prepare adequately for the task before him. | be easy to, be quick to a meal that is very quick and easy to prepare | be designed to The course is designed to prepare graduates for management careers. PREP. for We all set about preparing for the party. PHRASES time to prepare (sth) I haven't had time to prepare my arguments properly.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary