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

The Glendale opening marks another step in Bezos’s push to build a national preschool network focused on underserved communities. — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Understanding Head Start’s launch Head Start is a free, nationwide year-round preschool program that serves more than 700,000 low-income children ages 3-5 and their families. — Alexander Thim, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026

Noun

Head Start preschools would also have the option of eliminating parent committees, formal groups that weigh in on curriculum and programming. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

The boys went to parent-participation preschool together in Loomis and competed on the same soccer team, the Loomis Fury, from sixth through eighth grade. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 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