equip

1 of 2

verb

i-ˈkwip How to pronounce equip (audio)
equipped; equipping
Synonyms of equip

transitive verb

1
: to furnish for service or action by appropriate provisioning
equip an army
2
: dress, array
3
: to make ready : prepare
wasn't equipped to handle the pressures of the job

equip

2 of 2

abbreviation

equipment

Synonyms of equip

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Verb

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Choose the Right Synonym for equip

furnish, equip, outfit, appoint, accoutre mean to supply one with what is needed.

furnish implies the provision of any or all essentials for performing a function.

a sparsely furnished apartment

equip suggests the provision of something making for efficiency in action or use.

a fully equipped kitchen

outfit implies provision of a complete list or set of articles as for a journey, an expedition, or a special occupation.

outfitted the family for a ski trip

appoint implies provision of complete and usually elegant or elaborate equipment or furnishings.

a lavishly appointed apartment

accoutre suggests the supplying of personal dress or equipment for a special activity.

fully accoutred members of a polar expedition

Examples of equip in a Sentence

Verb More money was needed to train and equip the troops. Equipped with a hoe and a shovel, I headed for the garden. Her training has equipped her to deal with emergencies. She is well-equipped to deal with emergencies. Those students are not equipped for the challenges of college.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Karen is newly sober, newly released, and seemingly determined to approach this chapter of her life with an earnestness that the rest of the cast may not be emotionally equipped to accommodate. — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026 In an Austin school district where buses are equipped with cameras, Waymos were recorded illegally passing them more than twenty times in the past school year—a problem that persisted even after the company tried to fix it. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 By contrast, another study of small and medium-size businesses after the sudden death of a CEO-owner found that, in the short run, nonfamily successors are better equipped to run the company. — Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026 The company's direct-to-cell technology uses satellites equipped with thousands of antennas to deliver reliable broadband coverage to billions of unconnected people globally. — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for equip

Word History

Etymology

Verb

modification of Anglo-French eskiper, eschiper to load on board a ship, embark, outfit, man, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English scipian equip a ship, scip ship

First Known Use

Verb

1523, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of equip was in 1523

Phrases Containing equip

Rhymes for equip

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Browse Nearby Words

equinox
equip
equipage
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Cite this Entry

“Equip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equip. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

equip

verb
i-ˈkwip
equipped; equipping
1
: to provide with the necessary materials or supplies for service or action
2
: to make ready : prepare
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