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unprepared

unprepared

69 2.8
Not ready for something because the things you need or a plan are missing
  • adjective
  • /ˌʌnprɪˈpɛrd/
translation icon : impreparado
  • She realized she was unprepared for the challenges of moving to a new city.
  • feel unprepared
  • caught unprepared
  • unprepared for college

And they are totally unprepared and vulnerable.

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Examples

  • Specifically, parents were overwhelmed and unprepared to create a healthy, active environment for their children, according to personnel.

    Academic text (2013)
  • We were totally unprepared for this.

  • However, they seem to have been caught unprepared on open ground.

  • We're all going to be unprepared for something.

  • So I went in there unprepared and I came out of it, as you can see, really mad.

  • And I think the thing that I was most unprepared for was what does it look like to to build the whole ship?

  • I mean, look, we were unprepared, in the dark.

  • In fact, I was totally unprepared for what happened.

  • But Adam was completely unprepared for the effect she had on him in person.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Many music teachers report that they feel unprepared to work with students who are disabled.

    Academic text (1991)

Synonyms

ill-equipped
vsunprepared
12 6.1

Having no tools, help, or skills needed for a task

is the general absence of advance setup or planning rather than tool lack
unrehearsed
vsunprepared
7 5.3

Not planned or practiced before

is the wider absence of advance planning or setup
flat-footed
vsunprepared
  • Informal
3 6.7

Not ready and unable to react quickly

is the general lack of advance planning rather than sudden shock
unequipped
vsunprepared
2 4.6

Not having the tools or skills needed for a task

is the broader missing of advance planning rather than only tool absence
unready
vsunprepared
2 4.5

Not prepared and slow to understand or react

is the lack of earlier planning or advance setup
underprepared
vsunprepared
1 3.9

Not ready enough for an important task or event

is a broader absence of prior preparation rather than insufficiency
underequipped
vsunprepared
1 5.6

Not having enough tools or supplies to do something properly

is the lack of advance planning or setup rather than mere shortage
unprimed
vsunprepared
7.1

Not prepared in advance for a test or task

is the general lack of advance setup or planning

Antonyms

103 1.3

Ready to use or do something when needed

1 2.3

The state of being prepared to act immediately

How Prepared

ready
1.0
prepared
103 1.3
unprepared
69 2.8

Surface Forms

unprepared positive

Morphology

unprepared = prepared (transparent) = un + prepare + ed

The adjective is formed by straightforward negation: 'un-' + 'prepared' gives 'not prepared', which learners can readily infer.

Etymology

Unprepared is made of un- meaning 'not' and prepare, where pre- means 'before' and prepare means 'make ready'. So, unprepared literally means 'not ready', which is why we use it for someone who did not get ready before an event.