preparatory

UK: /prɪˈpærətəri/

US: /prɪˈpærəˌtɔri, -ˈpɛr-, ˈprɛpərə-/

US: (pri par′ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē, -pâr′-, prep′ər ə-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•par•a•to•ry /prɪˈpærəˌtɔri, -ˈpɛr-, ˈprɛpərə-/   adj. [before a noun]

1. serving or designed to prepare:
   preparatory arrangements.
2. introductory:
   preparatory remarks.
3. of or relating to training that prepares for more advanced education:
   preparatory school.

See -pare¹-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•par•a•to•ry  (pri par′ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē, -pâr′-, prep′ər ə-), adj. 

1. serving or designed to prepare:
   preparatory arrangements.
2. preliminary;
   introductory:
   preparatory remarks.
3. of or pertaining to training that prepares for more advanced education.

adv. 

4. Idioms preparatory to, in advance of;
   before:
   The astronauts met with the press preparatory to lifting off.

• Medieval Latin praeparātōrius. See prepare, -tory¹
• late Middle English 1375–1425

pre•par′a•to′ri•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

preparatory / prɪˈpærətərɪ -trɪ/ adjective

1. serving to prepare
2. introductory or preliminary
3. occupied in preparation
4. preparatory to ⇒ as a preparation to; before: a drink preparatory to eating

preˈparatorily adverb