preparatory

[ pri-par-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, -pair-, prep-er-uh- ]
See synonyms for preparatory on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. serving or designed to prepare: preparatory arrangements.

  2. preliminary; introductory: preparatory remarks.

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

Idioms about preparatory

  1. preparatory to, in advance of; before: The astronauts met with the press preparatory to lifting off.

Origin of preparatory

1
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word praeparātōrius.See prepare, -tory1

Other words from preparatory

  • pre·par·a·to·ri·ly, adverb
  • non·pre·par·a·to·ry, adjective

Words Nearby preparatory

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use preparatory in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for preparatory

preparatory

/ (prɪˈpærətərɪ, -trɪ) /


adjective
  1. serving to prepare

  2. introductory or preliminary

  1. occupied in preparation

  2. preparatory to as a preparation to; before: a drink preparatory to eating

Derived forms of preparatory

  • preparatorily, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012