prearrange

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prearrange" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of arranging something in advance or beforehand. Example: "We need to prearrange the meeting time to ensure everyone can attend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Two services offered by American operators, Cingular's Escape-A-Date and Virgin Mobile's Rescue Ring, allow customers to prearrange a call at a given time, to enable them to get out of a disastrous dinner date or boring meeting.

The Economist

It also signifies a small yet significant victory for commuter van drivers, who have lobbied for years for permission to pick up passengers along bus routes without having to prearrange the fares.

The New York Times

For a busy executive, Davos was like one-stop shopping: in just a few days, Gates could assemble and speak with hundreds of his biggest customers, prearrange appointments to discuss deals, stack up private sessions with CEOs or government chiefs, and gather in one room correspondents from the world's most prestigious publications.

The Guardian - Tech

These firms prearrange for major users of electricity — factories, shopping malls, skyscrapers — to shut down all nonessential electricity in exchange for payments, often totaling tens of thousands of dollars each year.

The New York Times - Magazine

There is now no plan to try to prearrange a statement for the next round, but American officials did not rule out a set of goals being worked on once the talks are scheduled.

The New York Times

But whatever the organizers prearrange, they are accused of manipulation.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

After an ongoing slanging match with columnist Andrew Bolt, the communications minister did a prearranged interview with Jones, who also saw nefarious intent in Turnbull's dinner last week with Clive Palmer.

The Guardian

Many Syrians presume he is part of a prearranged political theatre.

The Economist

As a result, the PUC has ordered Bangor Hydro Electric, the biggest local utility, to find sources of power on the open market and to sell it at a prearranged price.

The Economist

It remains unclear whether this attack on "privilege" was a spot of freelancing by a chancellor who fancies himself more of a class warrior than his boss, or part of a prearranged good-cop/bad-cop plan to refresh the Labour heartlands that the blander parts of New Labour's message cannot reach.

The Economist

He assigned light field pieces to the rear of his infantry or cavalry, to be fired through prearranged gaps in the forward units.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "prearrange" to emphasize the proactive nature of planning, highlighting that something has been deliberately set up in advance.

Common error

Avoid using "in advance" directly after "prearrange" as the prefix 'pre-' already implies doing something beforehand. Instead of saying "prearrange in advance", simply use "prearrange".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "prearrange" is as a transitive verb. It describes the act of organizing or setting up something in advance. Ludwig examples show its usage in contexts ranging from setting up appointments to planning events.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "prearrange" is a grammatically sound verb used to describe the act of arranging something in advance. While not exceedingly common, as Ludwig examples indicate, it appears in various contexts, particularly in news media, encyclopedias, and scientific texts. Usage advice includes avoiding the redundant phrase "prearrange in advance" and ensuring the context clarifies what's being set up. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English and further solidifies its value as a clear and effective means of expressing advance planning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arrange beforehand

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of arranging something prior to an event.

schedule in advance

Focuses on setting a specific time for an event ahead of time.

plan ahead

A more general term for making future arrangements.

set up in advance

Highlights the preparatory actions taken beforehand.

organize beforehand

Focuses on the act of structuring and coordinating something ahead of time.

make prior arrangements

Highlights the act of making arrangements sometime earlier.

establish in advance

Implies a more formal or official advance arrangement.

coordinate beforehand

Emphasizes the process of bringing different elements into a harmonious relationship before an event.

predetermine

Indicates that something is decided or established in advance, often implying a lack of flexibility.

stipulate

Refers to specifying a condition or requirement in advance, often in a formal agreement.

FAQs

How do you use "prearrange" in a sentence?

You can use "prearrange" to describe setting up an event or detail in advance. For example, "They "prearrange" the seating chart for the wedding reception".

What is a synonym for "prearrange"?

A synonym for "prearrange" is "arrange beforehand". Other alternatives include "plan ahead" or "schedule in advance".

Is it redundant to say "prearrange in advance"?

Yes, it is redundant. The prefix "pre-" in "prearrange" already means "beforehand", so adding "in advance" is unnecessary and repetitive.

What's the difference between "prearrange" and "arrange"?

"Arrange" simply means to organize or make preparations for something. "Prearrange" specifically means to organize or make preparations for something beforehand. The use of "prearrange" emphasizes the advanced planning aspect.