What does "preparation" mean?
The act of preparing or getting ready.
Preparation
/ˌpɹɛpəˈɹeɪʃ(ə)n/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of preparing or getting ready.
- Grammar: preparation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: formulation, planning, preparedness, readiness.
- Useful contrasts: by chance, no planning, carelessness.
- Usage evidence: We failed due to a lack of preparation.
How to use "preparation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "preparation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "preparation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "preparation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "preparation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "preparation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "formulation" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "preparation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of preparing or getting ready. uncountable
"I went over my notes in preparation for the exam."
- 2 the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat wordnet
- 3 The state of being prepared; readiness. uncountable
- 4 preparatory school work done outside school (especially at home) wordnet
- 5 That which is prepared.; A substance, especially a remedy, that is prepared. countable, uncountable
"The traditional remedy is a bitter preparation made from steamed herbs."
Show 11 more definitions
- 6 activity leading to skilled behavior wordnet
- 7 That which is prepared.; A part of any animal body preserved as a specimen. countable, uncountable
- 8 the activity of putting or setting in order in advance of some act or purpose wordnet
- 9 That which is prepared.; Any of the objects placed between the strings of a prepared piano. countable, uncountable
- 10 the cognitive process of thinking about what you will do in the event of something happening wordnet
- 11 The day before the Sabbath or other Jewish feast-day. Judaism, countable, uncountable
- 12 (music) a note that produces a dissonant chord is first heard in a consonant chord wordnet
- 13 Devotional exercises introducing an office. countable, uncountable
- 14 the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action) wordnet
- 15 The previous introduction, as an integral part of a chord, of a note continued into a succeeding dissonance. countable, uncountable
- 16 a substance prepared according to a formula wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"We failed due to a lack of preparation."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "preparation"?
Common synonyms include: formulation, planning, preparedness, readiness, accouterment, activation.
How do you use "preparation" in a sentence?
We failed due to a lack of preparation.
How do you pronounce "preparation"?
Pronounced /ˌpɹɛpəˈɹeɪʃ(ə)n/.
Etymology
From Middle English preparacion, from Middle French preparacion, from Latin praeparatio, praeparationem. Morphologically prepare + -ation.