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

• nursery

Examples of preschool in a Sentence

Noun

children excited about starting preschool

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Fighting the bill felt like too much for Silva and her husband to handle while parenting a growing number of kids, one of them severely disabled, and working — she as a preschool teacher and he as a rancher. —Rae Ellen Bichell, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025

Like a lot of preschool shows, Gabby pauses to ask the audience questions and invite them to play along. —Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025

Noun

Also opening this weekend is Universal/DreamWorks’ big-screen take of the Netflix preschool series Gabby’s Dollhouse, which is eyeing $13M-$15M at 3,500 theatres. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025

Merage also features a health and fitness complex, licensed preschool and toddler care, teen lounge, gymnasium, junior Olympic swimming pool and facilities for social occasions. —Greg Mellen, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 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