# gear to

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gear-to
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to design or organize something so that it is suitable for a specific group of people or a particular purpose.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The book is gear to children." but "The book is geared to children." — this phrase is almost always used in the passive form, requiring the past participle 'geared'.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.