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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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 preparatory Cheshire Academy serves as a college preparatory boarding and day school. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 6 May 2025 Cheshire Academy is a college preparatory boarding and day high school that was founded in 1794. David Matthews, New York Daily News, 6 May 2025 The preparatory challenges refer to legacy infrastructure and a lack of appropriate skills to jumpstart the AI adoption. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 This month, Rosatom began the preparatory site work to construct a nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan, which will be the first nuclear reactor in Central Asia and Russia’s first SMR export. Juzel Lloyd, Foreign Affairs, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for preparatory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preparatory
Adjective
  • Investigators at the time said preliminary evidence suggested a murder-suicide — an outcome their family members refused to believe.
    Javon Huynh, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
  • Police said their preliminary investigation indicates that the unidentified teen was handling a gun while recording her social media video when the firearm went off and struck her in the upper body.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • From that ugly introductory victory, the film goes on to portray the remaining 15-odd years in Magellan’s ever-loftier, ever-hungrier career, though Diaz isn’t massively hung up on historical dates and particulars.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 May 2025
  • Students begin with three introductory modules, all available online now, then select an FSF discipline: design and product development, merchandising, marketing, or business strategy.
    Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 May 2025

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“Preparatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preparatory. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

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