prepare

/pɹɪˈpɛə/

//pɹɪˈpɛə// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"prepare" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“prepare” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,753 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#2,753
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
8
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To make ready for a specific future purpose; to set up; to assemble or equip; to forearm.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

prepare vs prewar
71% similar
prepare vs propane
71% similar
prepare vs prepared
88% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for prepare
PropertyValue
Headwordprepare
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/pɹɪˈpɛə/
Letters7
Frequency rank#2,753
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs8
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “prepare” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). prepare lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for prepare is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /pɹɪˈpɛə/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,753 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for prepare, with forms such as "perpare", "pprepare", and "preapre". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 8 confusable-pair relationships, "prewar", "propane", "prepared", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Partially a back-formation from preparation; and partially borrowed from Middle French preparer, from Classical Latin praeparāre (“make ready in advance”), from prae- (“pre-”) + parāre (“make ready”). Compare Middle English preparaten (“to prepare”). The correct English form is prepare, spelled P-R-E-P-A-R-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To make ready for a specific future purpose; to set up; to assemble or equip; to forearm.
  2. 2
    To make ready for eating or drinking; to cook.
  3. 3
    To make oneself ready; to get ready, make preparation.
  4. 4
    To produce or make by combining elements; to synthesize, compound.

Etymology

Partially a back-formation from preparation; and partially borrowed from Middle French preparer, from Classical Latin praeparāre (“make ready in advance”), from prae- (“pre-”) + parāre (“make ready”). Compare Middle English preparaten (“to prepare”).

Synonyms

buskgraithreadyyarkget ready

This word in other languages

preparar(Español)préparer(Français)vorbereiten(Deutsch)fazer(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: perpare,pprepare,preapre,prepaer,preparre,preppare,preprae,prpeare,prrepare,rpepare

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of prepare - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

perpare2pprepare1preapre2prepaer2preparre1preppare1preprae2prpeare2
Edit distance from "prepare"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "prepare"?
"prepare" is spelled P-R-E-P-A-R-E. The IPA pronunciation is /pɹɪˈpɛə/.
What does "prepare" mean?
As a verb, "prepare" means: To make ready for a specific future purpose; to set up; to assemble or equip; to forearm.
What words are commonly confused with "prepare"?
"prepare" is commonly confused with "prewar", "propane", "prepared". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "prepare"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "prepare" is /pɹɪˈpɛə/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "prepare"?
Partially a back-formation from preparation; and partially borrowed from Middle French preparer, from Classical Latin praeparāre (“make ready in advance”), from prae- (“pre-”) + parāre (“make ready”). Compare Middle English preparaten (“to prepare”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “prepare”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is P-R-E-P-A-R-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /pɹɪˈpɛə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “prewar” - see the side-by-side comparison. prepare vs prewar
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list