Equip vs Make ready

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Equip

Top 2,000 (common)B2verb

Make ready

Top 2,000 (common)
 EquipMake ready
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ɪˈkwɪp/","/ɪˈkwɪps/","/ɪˈkwɪpt/","/ɪˈkwɪpɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪˈkwɪp/","/ɪˈkwɪps/","/ɪˈkwɪpt/","/ɪˈkwɪpɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //meɪk ˈrɛdi//🇺🇸 //meɪk ˈrɛdi//
Meaningto provide someone with the necessary tools or items for a specific purposeTo prepare something for use or action.
ExampleWe need to equip the team with the latest technology for the project.We need to make ready the equipment before the event starts.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationslavishly, splendidly, superbly, seek to, try to, for, with, be equipped to deal with, be equipped to handle something, come equipped with, lavishly, splendidly, superbly, seek to, try to, for, with, be equipped to deal with, be equipped to handle something, come equipped withmake ready for inspection, make ready the supplies, make ready the plans, make ready the documents
Antonymsdeprive, dismantle, unprepare-
Common mistakesIncorrectly using 'equipped' as a noun., Confusing 'equip' with 'equip with', omitting 'with'., Using 'equip' without a clear object, e.g., saying 'I will equip' instead of 'I will equip you'.Confused with 'get ready' which is more informal., Using it improperly in passive constructions.
Usage notesUsed when discussing providing necessary items or tools, often in contexts of preparation or provisioning. Avoid in very casual conversations where simpler phrases like 'give' might suffice.Use 'make ready' in contexts where preparation is needed. It is appropriate in both formal and informal situations.

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Make ready

Frequently asked questions: Equip vs Make ready

What's the difference between Equip and Make ready?

Equip: to provide someone with the necessary tools or items for a specific purpose Make ready: To prepare something for use or action.

Can you show an example of each?

Equip: We need to equip the team with the latest technology for the project. Make ready: We need to make ready the equipment before the event starts.

Can I use Equip and Make ready interchangeably?

Not always. Equip and Make ready are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.