preschool

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​school ˈprē-ˌskül 

(ˌ)prē-ˈskül

: of, relating to, or constituting the period in a child's life that ordinarily precedes attendance at elementary school

preschool

2 of 2

noun

pre·​school ˈprē-ˌskül 

: a school for children usually younger than those attending elementary school or kindergarten : nursery school

Synonyms

Noun

• crèche
• day nursery
• nursery
• nursery school
• pre-K
• prekindergarten

Examples of preschool in a Sentence

Noun

children excited about starting preschool

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In addition, the plan summary notes that school redistricting that will shift the district’s preschool program from East Farms to Noah Wallace Elementary School will eliminate risk of over-enrollment at East Farms, where children living in the district would attend school. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2025

Her family joined a preschool exchange that’s giving them a kid-first window into Japanese culture. —Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 21 June 2025

Noun

On My Way Pre-K provides state vouchers for quality, free preschool for 4-year-olds from income-eligible families. —Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2025

The incident took place near a grocery store and preschool. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 10 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1914, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preschool

• ampoule
• bascule
• carpool
• cesspool
• ferrule
• footstool
• guayule
• lobule
• misrule
• pustule
• whirlpool
• boule

Kids Definition

preschool

1 of 2 adjective

pre·​school ˈprē-ˌskül 

: of, relating to, or being the period in a child's life to the age of five or six that ordinarily precedes attendance at school

preschool

2 of 2 noun

: a school for children usually younger than those attending elementary school or kindergarten : nursery school