as in preliminary
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows
a preparatory investigation to see if there is enough evidence to warrant bringing charges
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Recent Examples of preparatory
The overdraft rule, which the consumer bureau finalized in December after years of preparatory work, was scheduled to take effect in late 2025.
—
Stacy Cowley, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Of those five, sources close to negotiations say the biggest point of conflict Monday was a debate over preparatory time for elementary school teachers.
—Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Although Ukraine’s accession to the alliance has been controversial, there is precedent for members being brought in without lengthy delay or an elaborate preparatory process.
—Stephen Hadley, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2025
Four preparatory sketches on view are among fewer than a dozen surviving examples and illustrate the continuity and interconnectedness of his projects over several decades.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preparatory
Stacy Cowley, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Of those five, sources close to negotiations say the biggest point of conflict Monday was a debate over preparatory time for elementary school teachers.
—Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Although Ukraine’s accession to the alliance has been controversial, there is precedent for members being brought in without lengthy delay or an elaborate preparatory process.
—Stephen Hadley, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2025
Four preparatory sketches on view are among fewer than a dozen surviving examples and illustrate the continuity and interconnectedness of his projects over several decades.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preparatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preparatory
Adjective
-
In an ad hoc statement on April 9, the company recognized that the preliminary first-quarter result deviated significantly from analyst expectations of around 4 billion euros.—
Sam Meredith,
CNBC,
30 Apr. 2025
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Earlier this month, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction to block DOGE from accessing sensitive personal information held by the SSA.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Hudson was in attendance at his introductory press conference.—
Boston Herald Wire Services,
Boston Herald,
1 May 2025
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Depending on the institution, AP scores may allow students to test out of introductory courses, fulfill general education requirements, or even graduate early—potentially saving them thousands of dollars in tuition.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preparatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preparatory. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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