geared
geared — adjective
1. Deliberately designed, organized, or adjusted so that something fits a particula
Deliberately designed, organized, or adjusted so that something fits a particular purpose, need, or audience — for example, a course geared to beginners, or a policy geared toward economic growth.
The new training program is geared toward helping young graduates find their first jobs.
geared toward + gerund [purpose]
Kenji signed up for a cooking class that is geared to absolute beginners.
geared to + noun phrase [audience]
Most exhibits in the science museum are geared for children aged six to twelve.
Ananya felt the workshop was geared too heavily toward theory and not enough practice.
The university offers evening classes geared specifically to students who work full time during the day.
- unsuitable
not fitting the purpose or audience
- inappropriate
wrong for the context or group
文法句型
be geared to/toward/for + noun/gerund
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used in the passive pattern: 'be geared + to/toward/for'. The object after the preposition can be a noun phrase or a gerund (e.g., geared toward helping).
常見錯誤
2. Fully prepared in practical or mental terms to begin a task, face a situation, o
Fully prepared in practical or mental terms to begin a task, face a situation, or handle an event — for example, a team geared up for a big match, or emergency workers geared to respond to a disaster.
The whole team was geared up for the final match of the season.
geared up for + [event]
Sofia is geared to start her new job at the hospital next Monday.
geared to + infinitive [action]
Emergency services are geared to respond within minutes when an earthquake strikes.
After months of training, Chen felt mentally geared for the long bicycle ride across Taiwan.
The school is fully geared up to welcome over four hundred new students in September.
- unprepared
not ready
- unready
not in a state of readiness
文法句型
be geared up for + noun
geared to + infinitive
用法筆記
Often appears as 'geared up' (the phrasal-verb form fossilized as an adjective). The subject is typically a person, team, or organization rather than an inanimate object. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes readiness for action, not design for a purpose.
常見錯誤
geared — noun
1. The personal items, clothing, or tools that someone owns or uses for a particula
The personal items, clothing, or tools that someone owns or uses for a particular purpose.
Yusuf packed his camping gear into the back of the car before leaving for the mountains.
collocation: camping gear
The shop sells hiking gear such as boots, tents, and waterproof jackets.
collocation: hiking gear
Zara took off her wet climbing gear and hung it by the fireplace to dry.
Before the race all the runners checked their gear and tied their shoelaces tightly.
Wei keeps his painting gear in a large wooden box under the window.
文法句型
gear for [activity]
[possessive] gear
用法筆記
Often used as an uncountable noun — 'some gear,' 'a lot of gear,' not 'a gear.' However, 'gears' is possible when referring to individual pieces of equipment in informal speech.
常見錯誤
2. A circular wheel with teeth around its edge that fits into another similar wheel
A circular wheel with teeth around its edge that fits into another similar wheel, so that power and movement can be passed from one part of a machine to another.
The mechanic replaced the broken gear inside the factory conveyor belt motor.
When Santiago turned the handle, the brass gears inside the old clock began to move.
countable: 'brass gears' referring to multiple toothed wheels
Chidi watched the large metal gears rotate as the water mill started operating again.
A gear with fewer teeth spins faster than a larger gear that it is connected to.
The bicycle chain connects the pedal gear at the front to the rear wheel gear.
文法句型
gear + verb (meshes, turns, rotates)
用法筆記
Frequently appears in compound nouns describing location or function: 'drive gear', 'pedal gear', 'steering gear'.
常見錯誤
3. A specific position of a vehicle's speed-changing system that decides the relati
A specific position of a vehicle's speed-changing system that decides the relationship between engine speed and wheel speed, such as first, second, or reverse.
Nadia shifted into third gear as the car reached the highway speed limit.
collocation: shift into + [number] + gear
The driving instructor told Wei to put the car into reverse gear before backing out.
On steep hills, cyclists switch to a lower gear to make pedalling easier.
Kenji heard a grinding noise when he tried to engage a gear without pressing the clutch.
The truck struggled up the slope in first gear, moving very slowly but steadily.
文法句型
[ordinal/number] + gear
in/into + [adjective] + gear
用法筆記
Often used with ordinal numbers (first, second, third) to indicate the specific setting. 'Reverse gear' is the setting for moving backward.
常見錯誤
4. A state or level at which a system, plan, or activity is operating, being organi
A state or level at which a system, plan, or activity is operating, being organised, or ready to function properly.
After weeks of preparation, the new marketing campaign finally shifted into high gear.
idiomatic: shift into high gear = begin operating at full speed
The team's efforts moved into full gear just before the product launch date.
With all the new staff trained, the office operations are now fully in gear.
Ananya felt her concentration slip out of gear during the long afternoon meeting.
The emergency response plan clicked into gear the moment the alarm sounded.
文法句型
in gear
out of gear
into gear
shift into [adjective] gear
用法筆記
Nearly always appears in set phrases ('in gear', 'out of gear', 'shift into gear', 'move into gear'). The mechanical metaphor extends to any organised activity or system.
5. The system of ropes, cables, and sails used to operate and steer any sailing ves
The system of ropes, cables, and sails used to operate and steer any sailing vessel.
The captain ordered the crew to inspect every piece of gear on the main mast before the voyage.
collocation: inspect gear
After years at sea, the ship's gear needed new ropes and stronger cables.
collocation: ship's gear
Amir learned how to adjust the gear on a small sailboat during his summer sailing course.
Salt water had damaged the gear, so the deckhands spent a week replacing the worn ropes.
文法句型
ship's gear
boat gear
用法筆記
This nautical sense is almost always uncountable. The term refers collectively to all rigging components rather than individual pieces.
6. The set of straps, buckles, and fittings used to attach a horse to a cart, plow,
The set of straps, buckles, and fittings used to attach a horse to a cart, plow, or other vehicle.
The farmer checked the horse's gear before hooking the animal up to the wagon.
collocation: horse's gear
Diego spent the afternoon cleaning and oiling every buckle on the leather gear.
At the stables beginners learn how to put the gear on a horse and fasten it correctly.
The leather gear had grown stiff from years of storage, so Satoshi applied conditioner to soften it.
文法句型
horse's gear
用法筆記
This sense is specific to horse-drawn transport and is now uncommon in everyday language. The more general term 'tack' is often preferred by modern equestrians.
常見錯誤
7. Speech or writing that is silly, meaningless, or not worth taking seriously.
Speech or writing that is silly, meaningless, or not worth taking seriously.
Don't listen to that gear about haunted houses — there is no such thing as ghosts.
informal dismissal phrase: 'that gear about...'
Mika dismissed the rumour as pure gear and walked away without another word.
phrase: 'pure gear'
The article was full of gear and contained no real facts or useful information.
When the politician started talking about aliens, the reporter knew it was all gear.
- sense
meaningful or reasonable speech
用法筆記
This sense is old-fashioned and limited mainly to informal British English. It is far less common today than 'nonsense' or 'rubbish.'
常見錯誤
8. The ordinary activities, tasks, or events that happen in a person's day-to-day l
The ordinary activities, tasks, or events that happen in a person's day-to-day life.
Tariq told his roommate about the day's gear — classes, laundry, and a quick dinner with friends.
The usual gear of a school morning includes breakfast, packing books, and catching the bus.
Hana asked her grandfather about the gear of farm life when he was a boy.
Cleaning the apartment, paying the bills, and walking the dog — that was the usual gear of Linnea's Saturday morning.
- activities
more common in everyday speech; 'gear' is more informal and regional
- business
can overlap but 'business' is broader and not restricted to daily routines
文法句型
the gear of [something]
用法筆記
This sense is dated or dialectal in modern English and rarely appears in formal writing.
geared — verb
1. to get a system, facility, or group of people ready so that they can operate, fu
to get a system, facility, or group of people ready so that they can operate, function, or handle a task effectively — for example, gearing a classroom with supplies before term starts, or gearing a warehouse for overnight shipments.
The ground crew geared the emergency shelter with cots and water supplies a day before the hurricane made landfall.
gear + object + with [supplies] for readiness
Volunteers geared the community kitchen with stoves and utensils to prepare meals for flood survivors.
The company geared its production line for the holiday season, doubling output in just three weeks.
The facility manager geared the conference centre for the summit, installing microphones in every meeting room.
Luisa geared the art studio with fresh paint and clean brushes so students could start their projects the next morning.
文法句型
be geared to/toward/for + noun
be geared to + infinitive
用法筆記
Very often used in the passive voice ('is geared to/toward/for'). The typical pattern describes a system or plan that has been designed with a particular purpose in mind.
常見錯誤
2. to change the content, design, or level of something so that it matches the need
to change the content, design, or level of something so that it matches the needs or tastes of a specific set of people or a particular situation.
Hana geared the hotel's breakfast menu to the preferences of Japanese business travellers who stayed there regularly.
gear + object + to + [tastes/needs]
The author geared the textbook toward readers who had no background in science but needed the basics.
Local tour companies geared their guided walks to the interests of families with young children.
Sofia geared the investor presentation toward a non-technical audience, keeping financial terms simple and clear.
The university's language programme is geared to the needs of students who plan to work abroad after graduating.
文法句型
be geared to/toward + noun
be geared to + infinitive
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (MAKE READY): sense 1 focuses on preparing a system or space for effective operation, while this sense focuses on adjusting the content or design so that it suits a particular audience or situation. Frequently passive.
常見錯誤
3. to fit a machine or a mechanical device with a set of gears so that its moving p
to fit a machine or a mechanical device with a set of gears so that its moving parts can work together at the correct speed and with the right amount of force.
The technician geared the new conveyor belt so it matched the speed of the factory's existing line.
gear + object + so that clause
Chen carefully geared the clock mechanism, placing each wheel so the hands would turn at the correct rate.
Satoshi geared the robot arm with precision parts to lift loads of up to fifty kilograms.
The factory floor was geared with a new transmission system that cut production time by half.
文法句型
gear + object
用法筆記
Often used in the passive form when describing the way a machine is built or modified.
常見錯誤
4. to link multiple mechanical parts through a system of gears so that the movement
to link multiple mechanical parts through a system of gears so that the movement of one part causes the other to move.
Nadia geared the small motor to the pump so that water would flow whenever the motor ran.
gear + object + to + object
The engineer geared the steering column directly to the front wheels for a more responsive ride.
Ines geared the pedal mechanism to the rear axle of the prototype tricycle.
The drill's handle was geared to the main shaft, transferring every turn into cutting force.
文法句型
gear + object + to + object
用法筆記
Typically describes a physical mechanical connection. The object after 'to' is the part that receives the movement.
常見錯誤
5. When the teeth of several interlocking gear wheels lock together and turn as one
When the teeth of several interlocking gear wheels lock together and turn as one unit, transferring movement from one part of a machine to another.
The teeth on the large wheel geared smoothly with the smaller one, and the conveyor belt began to move.
gear + with [mechanical part]
When the mechanic shifted the lever, the cogs finally geared and the engine turned over.
intransitive use without preposition
The two metal rings did not gear correctly because a single tooth had snapped off the edge.
Inside the old clock tower, the brass wheels geared against each other, moving the hands around the dial.
The driver released the clutch slowly, and the transmission gears geared with a soft click.
文法句型
gear + with [another mechanical part]
gear + against [another part]
用法筆記
Subject is usually a pair or set of toothed mechanical parts (gears, cogs, wheels). The preposition 'with' introduces the other part; 'against' can also be used. Frequently occurs in descriptions of machinery, clocks, and vehicle transmissions.
常見錯誤
6. When different systems, plans, or groups of people gradually adjust to each othe
When different systems, plans, or groups of people gradually adjust to each other so that they work well together or fit each other's needs.
Over several months, the two departments' schedules geared together and the workflow became much smoother.
gear together for abstract entities
The marketing plan did not gear with the company's limited budget, so the team had to revise their proposals.
gear with [abstract system]
After three weeks of rehearsals, the musicians' playing styles geared naturally and the band sounded excellent.
The new software geared easily with the existing database, so nobody needed extra training.
Linnea's teaching methods geared well with the school's philosophy of learning through hands-on projects.
文法句型
gear + with [system/plan]
gear + together
用法筆記
Subject is usually an abstract entity (plans, systems, methods, schedules, groups). Often followed by 'with' to introduce the matching element, or 'together' to describe mutual adjustment. Distinguish from verb sense 4 — sense 4 is transitive (someone gears something to match), while sense 6 is intransitive (things gear themselves naturally).