Phrasal verb
gear to
Definition
phrasal verb. to design or organize something so that it is suitable for a specific group of people or a particular purpose.
phrasal verb. to adjust or adapt something to suit a specific need, audience, or objective; frequently used in the passive voice to describe the intended target of a service or product.
Examples
“The course is geared to beginners.”
“The new fitness program is geared to busy professionals who only have thirty minutes to exercise.”
“While the initial marketing campaign was geared to domestic consumers, the company eventually pivoted toward an international audience to maximize growth.”
Examples
simple
“The course is geared to beginners.”
contextual
“The new fitness program is geared to busy professionals who only have thirty minutes to exercise.”
complex
“While the initial marketing campaign was geared to domestic consumers, the company eventually pivoted toward an international audience to maximize growth.”
Usage
often used in the passive voice as 'be geared to' or 'be geared toward'.
Teaching tip
explain that 'gear' relates to machinery and settings; just as you change gears on a bike for different hills, you 'gear' a service for different people.
Pitfall
The book is gear to children.
The book is geared to children.
this phrase is almost always used in the passive form, requiring the past participle 'geared'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
to
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
gear + object + to + recipient
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/gear-to