Preparation (noun)

1. The process of making something ready for use or service.
2. The act of getting ready for a future event or task.
3. The state of being ready or prepared for something.
4. The action of putting the necessary things in place in advance of an event.

Origin:

Middle english from old french preparation, from latin praeparatio meaning a preparing.

Examples:

1. She put a lot of preparation into her presentation to make sure it went well.
2. Proper preparation is the key to success.
3. The preparation for the party took several days.
4. His preparation for the exam was very thorough.
5. They were caught off guard because they had not made adequate preparation for the meeting.