precondition
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
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preconditions,
present (3rd person singular)
-
preconditioned,
past participle, past
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preconditioning
present participle
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
preconditionsimple
-
preconditionssimple
-
have preconditionedperfect
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has preconditionedperfect
-
am preconditioningprogressive
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are preconditioningprogressive
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is preconditioningprogressive
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have been preconditioningperfect progressive
-
has been preconditioningperfect progressive
Past
-
preconditionedsimple
-
had preconditionedperfect
-
was preconditioningprogressive
-
were preconditioningprogressive
-
had been preconditioningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of precondition
Explanation
A precondition is a prerequisite. It’s the thing that has to happen before something else happens. For example, as a precondition to getting your allowance, you might have to give the dog a hairdo once a week. Precondition is often used in the negative – when world leaders meet to discuss something, they might ask for no preconditions. Clean slate. On the other hand, good grades are sometimes a precondition for joining the school basketball team. Applying for a new job can be frustrating when you realize that experience is a precondition, but you're not sure how to get the experience without getting a job. When it's a verb, precondition means to prepare something (or someone).
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The absence of this precondition wouldn’t be so consequential if the average whale’s bets were no better or worse than those of the smallest investors.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
At the moment, Iran says it wants $12 billion as a precondition for even starting negotiations—and another $12 billion as a precondition for signing a deal at the end of the talks.
From Slate ● Jun. 15, 2026
But Iranian officials reiterated Tuesday that unfreezing the country’s overseas assets remains a precondition for continued negotiations.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026
The harder reality is this: The sanctions architecture the U.S. spent decades building assumed financial isolation as a precondition for leverage.
From Barron's ● Apr. 18, 2026
Understanding where we live is an essential precondition for improving the neighborhood.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
She said that "you can't mediate with someone who asks you to go into a meeting with preconditions".
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
"Our findings reveal that the Earth's interior preconditions landscapes to glaciation, determining when and where major climate transitions like the glaciation of Antarctica become possible," explained Prof Gernon.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026
Lee has also said he is ready for talks with Pyongyang without preconditions, including on formally ending the Korean War, which concluded with an armistice.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
The Jacksonville, Fla.-based Dream Finders said Beazer has created roadblocks in their negotiations by demanding onerous preconditions to starting due diligence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
These were both essential preconditions for the Scientific Revolution.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
But given the value of reliable information to anyone trying to navigate our complex society, it seems preconditioned to fix itself.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2025
Because as viewers, we’re sort of preconditioned to think in terms of will they/won’t they or who will be the one true pairing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2023
American Airlines spokesman Andrew Trull told the Charlotte Observer that a preconditioned air hose was likely attached to the plane and pumping cooler air from the jet bridge onto the craft.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 27, 2022
The greatest reduction in aircraft emissions has come from preconditioned air and ground power at each of the gates, which enables the small engines in the back of the aircraft to be powered off.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 22, 2020
Generally, while still in prison, our convict-converts preconditioned themselves to meet our Nation’s moral laws.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
Tesla also recommends that drivers use its “scheduled departure” feature to register the start of a trip in advance, so the vehicle can determine the best time to start charging and preconditioning.
From New York Times ● Jan. 17, 2024
Studies show that preconditioning helps the ferrets’ survival rate.
From Scientific American ● Sep. 4, 2023
Photo by Umar Shakir / The Verge Keep the car plugged in and schedule preconditioning / charging.
From The Verge ● Jan. 27, 2022
In ion mode, the preconditioning unit is switched off and the sample passes through unaffected.
From Nature ● May 24, 2016
Tomorrow morning you will be given a preconditioning which will set up the basic situation that you have traveled to Serrengia and are now established there in the colony.
From The Colonists by Raymond F. Jones
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
