introductory

adjective

ˌin-trə-ˈdək-t(ə-)rē How to pronounce introductory (audio)
Definition of introductorynext
1
as in preliminary
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows an introductory paragraph to the chapter on evolution

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in basic
of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject an introductory course in computer programming

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of introductory After the introductory period, an ARM's interest rate can rise, subject to limits known as rate caps. — Mike Winters, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026 First up after the introductory affairs were Glenn and her pro partner, Pasha Pashkov. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Nov. 2026 Nihon University German film professor Shibuya Tetsuya, who gave an introductory lecture on German cinema, noted that the film even features a vegetarian vampire. — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026 Northwestern women’s basketball coach Carla Berube speaks during an introductory news conference March 31, 2026, at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston. — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for introductory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for introductory
  1. preliminary
  2. basic
  3. preparatory
  4. elementary
  5. rudimentary
Adjective
  • To prevent the seed heads from reseeding, do a preliminary light prune by trimming off the tops in fall, then cut the clumps back fully in spring.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Some Arizona cities have agreed to fund preliminary work to reduce reliance on the Colorado River by expanding an existing dam on the Verde River to capture runoff from storms, Svoma said.
    — Wufei Yu, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of preliminary
Adjective
  • The organization also offers free monthly home maintenance workshops to help homeowners tackle basic preventative repairs and vet contractors.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 11 Nov. 2026
  • However, for network connection, the TV must transmit its public IP address to connect to the internet and run basic features (like the Smart Hub and software updates).
    — John Higgins, The Verge, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of basic
Adjective
  • The Finnish Licensing and Supervision Authority ordered Google to halt preparatory activities at Muhos and the Otanmaki site near Kajaani.
    — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The drawing may have been made as a preparatory study to show a prospective patron before Canaletto completed a related painting.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of preparatory
Adjective
  • Sacramento City Unified leaders are pressing the city for notifications when ICE operates near schools after a parent was detained blocks from an elementary campus.
    — The Sacramento Bee staff, Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The charter school plans to build athletic fields on the site for its growing elementary campus.
    — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of elementary
Adjective
  • The district projects about $3,000 in cash and nearly $1,000 in expenses, including renting a post office box, maintaining its rudimentary website and buying supplies for outreach and education events, such as handouts and volunteer shirts.
    — Beth Kassab, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Scouring Europe’s strikers using the most rudimentary of metrics — goals scored — throws up a familiar set of utterly unattainable targets.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of rudimentary

Browse Nearby Words

introductions
introductory
intros
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Introductory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/introductory. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
speech-bubble-untangle
Simplify The Convoluted Expression Quiz A quiz that’s as “uncomplicated as a round de...
See All