Prep means to get something or someone ready for what's coming next. When you prep for a test, you review your notes and practice problems. A chef preps ingredients by washing vegetables, measuring spices, and arranging everything within reach before cooking begins. Athletes prep for big games through drills and strategy sessions.

Your teacher might ask you to prep materials for an art project, meaning you gather scissors, glue, and paper before class starts. Doctors prep a patient for surgery. Stage crews prep the theater before opening night.

Prep emphasizes the practical, hands-on work of preparation: taking concrete action rather than simply thinking or worrying. When you're prepping for a camping trip, you pack your tent, check your flashlight batteries, and fill water bottles. The word suggests purposeful action: laying groundwork, organizing resources, and making sure everything's in place so that when the main event arrives, you're completely ready to go.