gear up

USAGE SUMMARY

"gear up" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to mean to prepare or to get ready for something. Example sentence: "We need to gear up for the competition this weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

A tube amp especially a large one can be very heavy: a big negative if you regularly haul your gear up 3 flights of stairs!

WikiHow

Gear Up: Pro Line Archery Lanes Where: 9511 101st Avenue #1, Jamaica, Queens; [phone] Details: Purchase equipment from a wide selection of brands including True-Ball, Cater, True-Fire, Scent Shield, CodeBlue, Apex, and many more.

Huffington Post

The 44-year-old lieutenant accepted Mr. Warnock's offer to help carry gear up about 25 flights of stairs, and he jokingly asked if the broker trainee was a firefighter.

The New York Times

Liberty will refinance Virgin's debt and gear up with £5 billion, or $7.9 billion, of new debt.

The New York Times

"It doesn't matter what you say or think, you've still got to gear up for 100 miles an hour".

The New York Times - Sports

But Sony's bionic infrared signal reaches gear up to 15 feet away, forever eliminating those athletic interruptions to your channel surfing.

The New York Times - Tech

A notable feature of the landing gear was the ability to pivot the main landing gear up to 20° from the aircraft centerline to increase safety during crosswind landings.

Wikipedia

At 6 a.m. my husband and I gear up for our 25-mile training bike ride before breakfast and worsening traffic, as we are training for our annual fundraising event for Dana Farber Cancer Center (the Pan Mass Challenge).

Huffington Post

A rumor broke just last week that Nintendo is gear up for some 3DS add-ons, most importantly a add-on analog stick for better 3D navigation.

TechCrunch

They gear up their capital 30 times, relying on the margin between swap spreads on investment-grade debt and the prospects of default.

The Economist

Electric Cars Gear Up, In retrospect, 2009 may come to be seen as a year in which the movement toward electric automobiles gained momentum.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gear up" when you want to emphasize a process of actively preparing for something, rather than simply being ready. For example, "The team is gearing up for the playoffs" suggests active training and planning.

Common error

Avoid using "gear up" when a state of readiness is already achieved or implied. Saying "We are geared up" when no preparation is currently underway can sound awkward. Instead, state directly that you are "ready".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gear up" primarily functions as a phrasal verb. It describes the action of preparing or getting ready for an event, task, or activity. According to Ludwig AI, it signifies the initiation of active preparations.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

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Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Wiki

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Encyclopedias

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Reference

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Gear up" is a phrasal verb used to describe the process of preparing or getting ready for something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Although example sentences are currently unavailable, it is understood to be a neutral-register phrase suitable for news, business, and general communication. Related phrases include "prepare", "get ready", and "mobilize", each with slightly different nuances. When using "gear up", remember that it emphasizes active preparation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get ready

A common and versatile way to express the act of becoming prepared.

prepare

A general term for making something ready for use or consideration.

prepare oneself

Implies a personal preparation for something.

make preparations

Emphasizes the actions taken to prepare.

brace oneself

Suggests preparing for something difficult or unpleasant.

mobilize

To assemble and organize resources for a specific purpose

rally

To bring together for a common action or purpose

get in shape

Focuses on physical preparation for an event.

set the stage

To make something ready to happen or be presented.

equip

Provide what is needed for a specific purpose

FAQs

How can I use "gear up" in a sentence?

You can use "gear up" to describe preparing or getting ready for something. For example, "The company is gearing up for the holiday season" or "We need to gear up for the presentation next week".

What are some alternatives to "gear up"?

Alternatives include "prepare", "get ready", or "mobilize" depending on the context. These phrases convey a similar meaning of readying oneself or others for an upcoming event or task.

Is it correct to say "geared up" instead of "gear up"?

Yes, "geared up" is the past tense and past participle of "gear up". You would use "geared up" to describe something that has already been prepared or gotten ready. For example, "We are geared up for the launch".

What's the difference between "gear up" and "prepare"?

"Gear up" often implies a more active and involved process of preparation, including assembling resources or making specific arrangements. "Prepare" is a more general term for making something ready.