preparatory
adjective
pre·pa·ra·to·ry
pri-ˈper-ə-ˌtȯr-ē 
also ˈpre-p(ə-)rə-,
pri-ˈpa-rə-
: preparing or serving to prepare for something : introductory
Synonyms
Examples of preparatory in a Sentence
There is a lot of preparatory work involved in teaching.
a preparatory investigation to see if there is enough evidence to warrant bringing charges
Recent Examples on the Web
Bidding for the first round of support is limited to firms that went through a preparatory procedure last summer.
—
Geir Moulson, Quartz, 12 Mar. 2024
In November, the Swedish firm was setting up a new UK holding company in what was seen as the preparatory work for a potential public offering.
—Aisha S Gani, Fortune Europe, 8 Mar. 2024
Yale, in New Haven, Conn., said that test scores were particularly valuable in evaluating students who attend high schools with fewer academic resources or college preparatory courses.
—Stephanie Saul, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024
This latest paper sheds more light on the painting by focusing on the preparatory layers applied to the canvas.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 15 Dec. 2023
School plans call for a college preparatory program with an emphasis on preparing for careers.
—Cynthia Howell, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2023
Cumming, however, was almost preposterously exacting, making elaborate preparatory sketches when ideas came into his head, then manufacturing props as necessary and working with a cumbersome eight-by-ten-inch view camera to produce prints in astonishing detail.
—Chris Wiley, The New Yorker, 8 Feb. 2024
His dance theater works don’t require preparatory research.
—Steven Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2024
For several hours most mornings, the participants sat in groups of about a dozen at round tables and discussed topics derived from preparatory sessions, organized by themes such as communion, participation, and mission.
—Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2023
Geir Moulson, Quartz, 12 Mar. 2024
In November, the Swedish firm was setting up a new UK holding company in what was seen as the preparatory work for a potential public offering.
—Aisha S Gani, Fortune Europe, 8 Mar. 2024
Yale, in New Haven, Conn., said that test scores were particularly valuable in evaluating students who attend high schools with fewer academic resources or college preparatory courses.
—Stephanie Saul, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024
This latest paper sheds more light on the painting by focusing on the preparatory layers applied to the canvas.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 15 Dec. 2023
School plans call for a college preparatory program with an emphasis on preparing for careers.
—Cynthia Howell, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2023
Cumming, however, was almost preposterously exacting, making elaborate preparatory sketches when ideas came into his head, then manufacturing props as necessary and working with a cumbersome eight-by-ten-inch view camera to produce prints in astonishing detail.
—Chris Wiley, The New Yorker, 8 Feb. 2024
His dance theater works don’t require preparatory research.
—Steven Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2024
For several hours most mornings, the participants sat in groups of about a dozen at round tables and discussed topics derived from preparatory sessions, organized by themes such as communion, participation, and mission.
—Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'preparatory.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near preparatory
Cite this Entry
“Preparatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preparatory. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preparatory
adjective
pre·pa·ra·to·ry
pri-ˈpar-ə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
-ˌtȯr-
: preparing or serving to prepare for something : introductory
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