as in preparatory
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows
in prefatory remarks he offered his own definition of "civilization", a word subject to a variety of interpretations
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Recent Examples of prefatory
Despite some discouraging downward trends, all the prefatory jawing could go a long way toward siphoning off a fair number of viewers who might otherwise be locked in on the NFL.
—
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2025
The prefatory pause gives the audience a chance to applaud a starry ensemble.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2025
The prefatory pause gives the audience a chance to applaud a starry ensemble.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefatory
Adjective
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Those preparatory projects included the installation of new capping roofs to weatherproof the buildings for a long period of care and maintenance, as well as the rerouting of electrical supplies and de-planting of boiler equipment.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Oct. 2025
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These are showcased alongside engravers’ prints and unpublished documents, such as preparatory Polaroids and test prints annotated by Avedon.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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However, there aren’t any introductory-APR offers, and there is a late payment fee of up to $40.—
David McMillin,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
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Steiner emerged as perhaps the biggest star of Formula 1’s Drive to Survive, doesn’t have any MotoGP experience, and, at his introductory press conference, did his best to come off humble.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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According to preliminary information from police, the crash happened as a gray Chevrolet Impala drove north in the southbound lanes of Ward Parkway.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
10 Oct. 2025
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Consumer sentiment edged a hair lower early this month to a preliminary reading of 55, the University of Michigan said Friday — a weak level rarely seen in the post-World War II era.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prefatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefatory. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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