equipped; equipping
Synonyms of equip

transitive verb

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

equip

2 of 2

abbreviation

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
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Verb
Only 22% of leaders surveyed did not feel personally equipped—emotionally, cognitively and physically—to lead effectively under conditions of prolonged uncertainty. — Carol Geffner, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026 The kitchen comes equipped with a triple-burner gas stove, sink and 190-L fridge/freezer. — New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026 Despite their differing colorways, each shoe in the set is equipped with the same waterproof Gore-Tex build which sees the Abzorb 2010’s typical open mesh paneling get swapped with a closed material to keep moisture at bay. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 25 Oct. 2026 But even the most sophisticated diagnostic tools cannot improve outcomes if patients cannot access the specialists and health care systems equipped to use them. — Bruce Bebo, STAT, 24 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Equip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equip. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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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