preparation

preparation — noun

1. the work, study, or time you put into making yourself or something else ready be

1.nounB1
Definition

the work, study, or time you put into making yourself or something else ready before an event takes place.

Example

Maya spent two weeks of careful preparation before her piano recital.

preparation for an upcoming event

The kitchen was busy with preparation for the wedding dinner on Saturday.

preparation for + noun

Common collocations
  • careful preparation
  • thorough preparation
  • lack of preparation
  • in preparation for
Synonyms
  • groundwork

    the early, foundational work done before the main effort

  • readiness

    the resulting state of being ready, not the activity itself

  • training

    preparation through repeated practice, often physical or skill-based

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

preparation for + noun

in preparation for + noun

Usage Note

Uncountable in this sense; do not say 'a preparation' or 'preparations' here. Distinguish from sense 2, which uses the plural 'preparations' for specific tasks.

Common Mistakes

I did a preparation for the meeting.
I did some preparation for the meeting.
the abstract activity sense is uncountable; use 'some' not 'a'.

2. the specific plans, tasks, or arrangements that people set up so an event can ru

2.nounB2
Definition

the specific plans, tasks, or arrangements that people set up so an event can run smoothly.

Example

The Watanabe family began their preparations for the New Year feast a week early.

preparations for + noun (plural countable)

Lina is making the preparations to move her studio into a bigger building.

make preparations to + infinitive

Common collocations
  • make preparations
  • final preparations
  • preparations are underway
  • last-minute preparations
Synonyms
  • arrangements

    very close in meaning; emphasises bookings and logistics

  • plans

    broader and more abstract; preparations are the concrete steps to carry plans out

Grammar Patterns

preparations for + noun

make preparations to + infinitive

Usage Note

Almost always plural in this sense ('preparations'). Subject is usually a person or organisation acting before a specific upcoming event. Distinguish from sense 1, which is uncountable and refers to the activity itself rather than the individual tasks.

Common Mistakes

They made preparation for the trip.
They made preparations for the trip.
when you mean the specific arrangements, use the plural.

3. a liquid, cream, or powder made by mixing ingredients in a set way, typically so

3.nounC1
Definition

a liquid, cream, or powder made by mixing ingredients in a set way, typically sold or applied as a medicine, skin treatment, or chemical product.

Example

The pharmacist handed Mr. Davies a clear preparation to soothe his sore throat.

a preparation (countable, medicinal)

This herbal preparation is made from ginger, honey, and a small amount of lemon oil.

preparation made from + ingredients

Common collocations
  • herbal preparation
  • pharmaceutical preparation
  • topical preparation
  • apply the preparation
Synonyms
  • mixture

    everyday word; preparation is more formal and implies a careful recipe

  • compound

    scientific; emphasises chemical structure rather than medicinal use

  • remedy

    any treatment for an illness, not necessarily a mixed substance

Grammar Patterns

a preparation of + noun

a preparation for + noun

Usage Note

Countable in this sense and often modified by an adjective naming the type ('herbal', 'pharmaceutical', 'topical'). Subject is the substance itself, not the person who made it. Common in pharmacy, cosmetics, and laboratory contexts.

Common Mistakes

Rub the preparation in your hair every morning to feel relaxed.
Rub the preparation into your hair every morning to relieve dryness.
this sense is technical and is paired with a clear medical or cosmetic purpose, not a vague feeling.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe getting ready before an event, but they differ in scope and focus. 'Preparation' is the most general — it covers any activity, planning, or time spent before an event, from cooking to studying. 'Groundwork' is narrower and earlier-stage; it refers to the basic, foundational work that has to happen before the main effort can even begin (a writer might lay the groundwork for a novel by researching the period). 'Readiness' is not the activity but the resulting state of being prepared, often used in formal or military contexts ('a state of combat readiness'). 'Training' is preparation through repeated, structured practice, usually physical or skill-based: athletes do training, but a host does preparation for a dinner party.

preparation ↗groundworkreadiness ↗training ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • preparation time
  • preparation work
  • exam preparation
  • food preparation

Adverbs

Phrases

  • with little preparation
  • weeks of preparation
  • in the final stages of preparation

Prepositions

  • preparation for
  • in preparation for
  • without preparation

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Comes from Latin 'praeparatio', formed from 'prae-' meaning 'before' and 'parare' meaning 'to make ready'. The word entered English in the late 14th century through Old French 'preparation', first used for the act of getting ready, and later extended to mean a substance that has been mixed and made ready (the medicinal sense, common in English from the 1600s).