expression

gear up

to prepare

In Phrasal Verbs

In more detail

1. (phrasal verb) to prepare or get ready for something

2. (phrasal verb) to equip someone with necessary clothing or equipment

Examples

1. The team is gearing up for the championship game next week.
2. The climbers geared up with ropes and helmets before starting their ascent.

How to use gear up

Gear up is commonly used to describe both psychological preparation (getting mentally or emotionally ready) and practical preparation (acquiring equipment or clothing needed for an activity). It is frequently used in business, sports, and military contexts, and has a slightly informal, energetic tone compared to more formal alternatives like 'prepare' or 'equip'.

Common phrases

gear up for
gear up to
gear someone up with
gear up for battle
gear up for action

Synonyms

prepare · get ready · equip · ready oneself · mobilize

Opposites

stand down · demobilize

Word family

gear · geared up

A common mistake

Learners often forget that the phrasal verb requires 'for' or 'to' after 'gear up' when followed by an activity, rather than using it as a simple transitive verb without a preposition.

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