IPA: /ˌprɛpəˈreɪʃən/
KK: /prɛpəˈreɪʃən/
The act of getting ready for something or the things that are done to make something ready.
The preparation for the event took several weeks.
Preparation → It is formed from "pre-" (meaning before) and "parare" (meaning to make ready). The word "preparation" refers to the act of making something ready beforehand.
Think of getting things 'ready' ('parare') 'before' ('pre-') they are needed — that's what preparation means.