equip

1 of 2

verb

i-ˈkwip 

equipped; equipping

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

Verb

• fit
• prepare
• qualify
• ready
• season
• train

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

Verb

That light is divided into 16 independent channels, all equipped with their own secondary lens and detector cameras designed to flag extremely faint objects. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 June 2025

Lenovo also plans to release two more versions this year: one equipped with SteamOS, which will cost $599, and another that will use the more powerful Z2 or Z2 Pro. —PC Magazine, 5 June 2025

People without air conditioning in their homes were urged to stay overnight at a friend's house equipped with cooling capabilities. —Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025

Vehicles affected in this recall are: 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus 2023-2025 Escape 2023 Lincoln Corsair 2025 Lincoln Corsair, Maverick, and Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L MPC engine and an engine block heater. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 4 June 2025

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

Phrases Containing equip

• re-equip

Rhymes for equip

• airship
• airstrip
• clerkship
• courtship
• filmstrip
• flagship
• gunship
• headship
• heirship
• judgeship
• kinship
• lightship

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