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 of preschool

Noun

• nursery

Examples of preschool in a Sentence

Noun

children excited about starting preschool

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This past year, Beyond Blindness has worked to reach the performance standards of OCHS by improving the preschool curriculum and introducing at-home parent-teacher conferences with students and their families. — Lillian Ashworth, Oc Register, 29 June 2026

The magic found its way to the bookmobile and was just the right size for a preschool child. — Literary Hub, 29 June 2026

Noun

Beginning in August, district guidelines will prohibit in-school screen time from preschool through first grade. — Audience Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026

Beginning in the late 1960s, a group of researchers conducted a series of experiments on children at a local preschool. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026

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