as in preparatory
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows
preparative warning that the injection was going to cause a modest amount of pain
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Recent Examples of preparative
Just weeks after announcing a plan (or at least the preparative study of a plan) to reconstruct Park Avenue in its premodern, superior form, the city has just revealed a major makeover for Fifth.
—
Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 17 Oct. 2024
One such approach involves utilizing advanced chromatography techniques like flash chromatography or preparative HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography).
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Aug. 2023
Using photography as a preparative tool as well as an art form later in life reveals Degas to have been a more progressive artist that was willing to experiment.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2019
Gordon explains that the body has quite a bit of pre-labor preparative work to do.
—Tanya Ward Goodman, Orange County Register, 5 June 2017
Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 17 Oct. 2024
One such approach involves utilizing advanced chromatography techniques like flash chromatography or preparative HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography).
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 12 Aug. 2023
Using photography as a preparative tool as well as an art form later in life reveals Degas to have been a more progressive artist that was willing to experiment.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2019
Gordon explains that the body has quite a bit of pre-labor preparative work to do.
—Tanya Ward Goodman, Orange County Register, 5 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preparative
Adjective
-
The push for college-for-all that gained momentum through the 1990s and 2000s reframed high school as a four-year college preparatory exercise.—
Gerald Bradshaw,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
-
After studying his own practice, Licklider determined that as much as 85% of his intellectual work — such as searching for data, running calculations, testing conclusions, and synthesizing information — was fundamentally preparatory for deeper, more creative efforts.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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According to preliminary information, Shah Alam did not have shoes on, just orange booties from the detention center, when he was dropped off by agents, Ryan said.—
Alisha Ebrahimji,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
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Property owner Carol Lazier submitted a preliminary development application for Seaside Ridge, which includes 42 lower-income units and 43 moderate-income units, in October 2022.—
Luke Harold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Register now and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 20% off.—
Gili Malinsky,
CNBC,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The book, which is now required for introductory sociology courses at Florida State University, was edited down from 669 pages to 267.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preparative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preparative. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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