English Reference
Noun

preparedness

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /pɹiˈpɛɹədnəs/ UK /pɹɪpˈeədnəs/ pre·pared·ness UK spelling preparednesses

n.the state of being ready for something that might happen. It means you have the right tools and a plan before a problem starts.

n.the state of being ready or prepared for a specific event or situation. Often used in contexts involving emergency response, military readiness, or organizational planning.


SIMPLE

The city improved its preparedness for winter storms.

CONTEXTUAL

Emergency services conducted a drill to test the city's preparedness for a major earthquake.

COMPLEX

The report criticized the government's lack of pandemic preparedness, citing a shortage of medical supplies and a failure to establish clear communication protocols before the crisis hit.

Usage

Typically functions as an uncountable noun; often followed by the preposition 'for'.

Two ​Nepali officials said China had ​not shared much information on glacier risks and water levels after a meeting to strengthen cooperation earlier this year, and they feared that could hamper future disaster preparedness.

The Guardian· 31 Aug 2026

These questions were central to our recently published study on community-led earthquake preparedness in Kathmandu.

Phys.org· 28 Aug 2026

From prepared + -ness.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated