# prep

/ˈpɹɛp/ (US) · /pɹˈɛp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prep
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to prepare

verb · CEFR B1 · Informal

to get something or someone ready for a specific task or event.

For teachers: to perform the necessary preliminary work for an activity or event. Informal in register; functions as a transitive verb.

- The chef spent three hours prepping the vegetables for the dinner service.
- The surgical team began to prep the patient for the procedure while the anaesthesiologist monitored the vital signs.

### 2. preparation work

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

the work you do to get ready for something.

For teachers: the process of preparation, particularly in a professional or technical context such as cooking or medicine.

- The exam was difficult, but all my prep finally paid off.
- Despite the extensive prep involved in the film shoot, the sudden change in weather forced the crew to postpone the outdoor scenes.

### 3. homework

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

school work that you do outside of your normal classes.

For teachers: school work assigned to be completed outside of regular classroom hours. Primarily used in British independent schools.

- The students have an hour of prep every evening before dinner.
- In many traditional boarding schools, the evening prep session is strictly supervised to ensure students remain focused on their academic assignments.

### 6. prep school student

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

a student who goes to an expensive private school.

For teachers: a student or graduate of a preparatory school; often implies a specific wealthy or traditional social background.

- He looked like a typical prep in his ironed shirt and sweater.
- The local teenagers often clashed with the preps from the elite academy on the hill.

## Examples

- I need to do some prep before the meeting starts.
- The surgical team began the patient's prep an hour before the scheduled operation time.
- Despite weeks of intensive exam prep, the students found the final physics paper significantly more challenging than the practice materials had suggested.

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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.