preparatory

American  

[pri-par-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, -pair-, prep-er-uh-] / prɪˈpær əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, -ˈpɛər-, ˈprɛp ər ə- /

adjective

1. serving or designed to prepare.

   preparatory arrangements.

2. preliminary; introductory.

   preparatory remarks.

3. of or relating to training that prepares for more advanced education.

---

idioms

1. preparatory to, in advance of; before.

   The astronauts met with the press preparatory to lifting off.

preparatory British  

/ -trɪ, prɪˈpærətərɪ /

adjective

1. serving to prepare

2. introductory or preliminary

3. occupied in preparation

4. as a preparation to; before

   a drink preparatory to eating

---

Other Word Forms

• nonpreparatory adjective
• preparatorily adverb

Etymology

Origin of preparatory

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word praeparātōrius. See prepare, -tory ¹

Example Sentences

"There will also need to be training on all relevant aspects of the research protocol, including preparatory work in the lead up to a young person being considered eligible for puberty blockers."

From BBC

He said the parties discussed, for the first time, the possibility of a trilateral meeting between leaders, not simply representatives, but cautioned that "preparatory elements are needed for this".

From BBC

Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel from 1508 to 1512, creating hundreds of preparatory drawings but afterward instructing his assistants in Rome to destroy them.

From The Wall Street Journal

Christie’s will test Michelangelo’s draftsmanship by offering up his estimated $1.5 million preparatory drawing of a foot with ties to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday.

From The Wall Street Journal

The administrators stuck with St. Benedict’s but initially dropped the “preparatory.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• preliminary
• previous