What does prearrange mean?
Prearrange is a formal verb meaning to arrange or plan something before it takes place. It is especially common for meetings, visits, agreements, interviews, and ceremonies that have been organized in advance rather than settled at the moment. In everyday conversation, it often suggests deliberate preparation: a delegation may prearrange a visit, or the two sides may prearrange a meeting before formal discussions begin. The word can also imply that arrangements have been agreed in advance, sometimes discreetly, although secrecy is not part of its basic meaning. Compared with simply arrange, prearrange emphasizes the timing of the planning. Compared with reschedule, it refers to making an arrangement initially rather than changing one that already exists.
verbTo arrange or plan something in advance, especially an agreement, meeting, event, or visit. It can also mean to make preparations for something before it happens.
- To arrange or plan something in advance.
- To agree or establish something beforehand, especially an agreement, meeting, or event.
"The two sides prearranged a meeting before the negotiations began."
"They prearranged the order of the ceremony several weeks in advance."
"The visit was prearranged through the embassy."
Prearrange takes the planning out of the meeting itself: the difficult work happens before everyone arrives.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does prearrange come from?
Prearrange is formed in English by combining the prefix pre-, meaning “before,” with arrange, from Old French arengier, meaning to arrange or set in order. The root ultimately comes through French from Latin ad- and arrangere, associated with arranging things in rank or order. Related English forms include arrangement and disarrange, while range and array also reflect the same broader Latin tradition of ordering.
Related word forms
How prearrange is actually used
Prearrange is formal and commonly describes meetings, visits, agreements, and other arrangements made before the relevant event. It can sometimes imply secrecy or advance planning, but it is not inherently secretive.
Easily confused with prearrange
Prearrange means to arrange something in advance, whereas rearrange means to change or organize it again after an initial arrangement.
Prearrange means to make an arrangement beforehand, while reschedule means to change the time or date of something that was already scheduled.