preconceive
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Usage
What does preconceive mean? Preconceive means to form an opinion or idea about something before you know anything factual or see any results, as in I don’t preconceive ideas about foods I haven’t tried yet. Preconceive is almost always used in the past tense, as in Watching the film confirmed Raul’s preconceived belief that he would hate it. Preconceive often implies that the reason a person formed an opinion ahead of time is because they have biases or prejudices that are influencing them. For example, you might be biased against vegetables because you haven’t liked any of the ones you’ve tried so far. That bias might lead you to have a preconceived idea that you won’t like a vegetable you’ve never eaten before. But you’ll only know if you like it by trying it. Preconceive is commonly used in the phrase preconceived notions, as in The man’s preconceived notions about rap music prevented him from giving it a fair chance.
Etymology
Origin of preconceive
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:
You will realize many things when you are open to that, and not anticipate and not preconceive and truly be present because that is when you’re going to find everything.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 23, 2021
How little did I preconceive the conduct which, in an exigence like this, I should be prone to adopt!
From The Lock and Key Library The most interesting stories of all nations: American by Hawthorne, Julian
How little did I preconceive the conduct which, in an exigence like this, I should be prone to adopt.
From Wieland: or, the Transformation, an American Tale by Brown, Charles Brockden
I think that many baby boomers have remained more active than our parents in general and that is a major difference and reason why we might be challenging some preconceived notions on aging.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
Delevingne said she has used humour and being self-deprecating in the past but had to learn to take herself more seriously when it came to music, knowing that people will have preconceived ideas about her.
From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026
When epidemiologist Antoine Flahault addressed a French governmental health conference alongside other health experts on Tuesday, he urged scientists, journalists and the general public to "be wary of preconceived notions".
From Barron's ● May 13, 2026
Conversely, critics have been the ones quick to deem the film mere sensationalism, seemingly clinging to preconceived notions about how certain themes should be talked about within the medium.
From Salon ● Apr. 9, 2026
Largely because of Disney and posed “natural” wildlife films and television programs I had preconceived ideas about wolves, about what wolves should be and do.
From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen
Preconceit′, a preconceived notion; Preconcep′tion, act of preconceiving: previous opinion formed without actual knowledge.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various
The first three lines happily state the nature and foundation of the friendship between him and Iago,—the purse,—as also the contrast of Roderigo's intemperance of mind with Iago's coolness,—the coolness of a preconceiving experimenter.
From Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher by Coleridge, Samuel Taylor
I can only express my firm conviction that he was totally incapable of preconceiving such a scheme.
From The Christian Foundation, Or, Scientific and Religious Journal, Volume I, No. 9. September, 1880 by Walker, Aaron
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
