Cool MateMake ready vs Prepare
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Make ready
Top 2,000 (common)
Prepare
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most common: Prepare
| Make ready | Prepare | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //meɪk ˈrɛdi//🇺🇸 //meɪk ˈrɛdi// | 🇬🇧 /["/prɪˈpeə(r)/","/prɪˈpeəz/","/prɪˈpeəd/","/prɪˈpeərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/prɪˈper/","/prɪˈperz/","/prɪˈperd/","/prɪˈperɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To prepare something for use or action. | to get ready for something |
| Example | We need to make ready the equipment before the event starts. | I need to prepare a presentation for the meeting tomorrow. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | make ready for inspection, make ready the supplies, make ready the plans, make ready the documents | adequately, properly, fully, help (somebody), help (somebody) to, need to, according to, for, prepare for the worst, time to prepare (something), adequately, properly, fully, help (somebody), help (somebody) to, need to, according to, for, prepare for the worst, time to prepare (something), adequately, properly, fully, help (somebody), help (somebody) to, need to, according to, for, prepare for the worst, time to prepare (something) |
| Antonyms | - | neglect, ignore |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'get ready' which is more informal., Using it improperly in passive constructions. | 'Prepare' does not need 'for' after it when stating what is being prepared., Confused with 'prepare to' (which means to get ready) vs 'prepare for' (which means to make preparations for something)., 'Preparation' is the noun form, but learners often incorrectly use 'preparation' instead of 'prepare'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'make ready' in contexts where preparation is needed. It is appropriate in both formal and informal situations. | Use 'prepare' when talking about making arrangements or getting things ready. It's appropriate in both written and spoken English, but can be less formal in casual contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Make ready vs Prepare
What's the difference between Make ready and Prepare?
Make ready: To prepare something for use or action. Prepare: to get ready for something
Which is more common: Make ready and Prepare?
Prepare is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Make ready: We need to make ready the equipment before the event starts. Prepare: I need to prepare a presentation for the meeting tomorrow.
Can I use Make ready and Prepare interchangeably?
Not always. Make ready and Prepare 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.