prep

UK: prɛp | US: prɛp

Definition

  1. n. short for "preparation" (e.g., school prep, test prep)

  2. vt. to prepare something (informal, e.g., "She prepped the materials")

  3. adj. relating to preparation (e.g., prep work)

Structure
prep <shortened form of "preparation">
Etymology

"Prep" is a clipped form of "preparation," originating in the early 20th century as informal shorthand. It retains the core meaning of its parent word while being more concise. The truncation follows a common pattern in English where longer words are abbreviated for efficiency (e.g., "exam" from "examination").

Examples

  1. She spent hours doing test prep for the SAT.

  2. The chef prepped the ingredients before cooking.

  3. Prep time is essential for a successful project.

  4. He enrolled in a summer prep course.

  5. The team prepped the presentation slides in advance.