preparatory
Americanadjective
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serving to prepare
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introductory or preliminary
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occupied in preparation
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as a preparation to; before
a drink preparatory to eating
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of preparatory
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word praeparātōrius. See prepare, -tory 1
Explanation
Use the adjective preparatory when you're getting ready for something. If you spend the day cleaning your house before a big party, the work you're doing is preparatory. You can call something preparatory when it helps you prepare. A summer school class that lays the groundwork for a calculus course in the fall is preparatory, and so are a coach's words of advice before the start of a football game. High schools that specifically ready students for college work are sometimes called "preparatory schools," or "prep schools" for short. The Latin root is praeparationem, "a making ready."
Vocabulary lists containing preparatory
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: pre-
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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.
With Indian drinkers proving a beacon in a gloomy landscape for the drinks business, Pernod said it is taking preparatory stops for a potential initial public offer of its business in the country.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Producing engineered immune cells directly inside the body, an approach known as in vivo manufacturing, could potentially remove the need for this preparatory chemotherapy as well.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026
Average grades in preparatory math, precalculus and calculus across UC continue their five-year decline, while D and F grades, no-pass marks and withdrawals in those courses have gone up.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
He has been charged with assisting a foreign intelligence service and preparatory conduct.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
I made some tentative, preparatory shapes with my mouth prior to saying something, but Katz raced on before I could get a thought in order.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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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.
