ill-equipped

ill-equipped — adjective

1. lacking the necessary skills, personal qualities, or physical items required to

1.形容詞C1
釋義

lacking the necessary skills, personal qualities, or physical items required to deal with a particular situation or task.

例句

Vivek felt ill-equipped to handle the complex financial report his manager had assigned.

pattern: ill-equipped to + infinitive (handle, deal with, manage)

The rescue team was ill-equipped for the snowstorm, with only light jackets and basic rope.

pattern: ill-equipped for + noun (snowstorm, situation, task)

同義詞
  • unprepared

    more general and slightly less formal; does not specifically imply a lack of tools or skills

  • unequipped

    narrower meaning, focused on missing physical resources rather than personal qualities

  • unsuited

    emphasises that someone's personal nature or talents make them wrong for a task, not just a lack of preparation

反義詞
  • well-equipped

    has all the necessary tools, skills, or qualities

  • prepared

    more general opposite, covering readiness from training or experience

文法句型

ill-equipped + to-infinitive

ill-equipped + for + noun

用法筆記

Typically followed by 'to + verb' or 'for + noun'. Can describe people, organizations, or entire systems. The word carries a sense of inadequacy — the person or group is not simply lacking something, but is noticeably underprepared for the demands of a specific situation.

常見錯誤

❌The team was ill-equipped of handling the crisis.
✅The team was ill-equipped to handle the crisis.
💡The correct structure is 'ill-equipped to do something' or 'ill-equipped for something', never 'ill-equipped of doing'.
❌She was ill-equipped about the new software.
✅She was ill-equipped for working with the new software.
💡Use 'for', not 'about', to indicate the situation someone is not ready for.

2. not having enough relevant experience or prior training to be ready for a partic

2.形容詞C1
釋義

not having enough relevant experience or prior training to be ready for a particular situation.

例句

Beatrix was ill-equipped for the debate, having studied only one side of the argument.

pattern: ill-equipped for + noun (debate, interview, role)

The new teacher felt ill-equipped to manage forty energetic students on her first day.

pattern: ill-equipped to + infinitive (manage, handle, deal with)

同義詞
  • inexperienced

    softer and more neutral; focuses purely on lack of practice without implying failure

  • unqualified

    stronger and more formal; suggests a failure to meet official requirements or standards

  • untrained

    focuses on lack of instruction rather than lack of experience or personal qualities

反義詞
  • experienced

    has the relevant practice and familiarity

  • prepared

    ready through a combination of training, research, and planning

文法句型

ill-equipped + to-infinitive

ill-equipped + for + noun

用法筆記

Focuses on lack of readiness stemming from inexperience or insufficient training, rather than from missing physical tools. Common with roles (teacher, lawyer, manager) and high-stakes situations (hearing, crisis, negotiation).

常見錯誤

❌I am ill-equipped in public speaking.
✅I am ill-equipped for public speaking.
💡The preposition is 'for', not 'in', to link to the situation.