Preparatorydone in advance to get ready for a later event describes something done before the main event or activity to get ready for it. It is often used in formalfollowing official or serious rules and style, academicrelated to school, study, or scholarly work, or official contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /prɛpəˈrætɔri/
Easy pronunciation: prep-uh-RAT-uh-ree (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress on the third syllable, RAT.
Used as an adjective meaning done in preparation for something else.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Preparatory Meaning
serving as preparation; done in advance
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: Done before something else to help prepare for it.
Example: The course includes a few preparatory lessons before the final exam.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- preparative — A close formal synonym meaning used for preparation or before the main thing.
- propaedeutic — A technical or academic term for preliminary instruction or preparation.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Preparatory Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- preparative
- propaedeutic
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using preparatory to mean 'ready' or 'prepared' itself; it usually means something that helps prepare for an event.
- Confusing preparatory with preparation, which is the noun for the act of getting ready.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does preparatory mean?
Preparatory means done in advance to help get ready for something else.
What are the best synonyms for preparatory?
Good synonyms include preparative and, in formal academic contexts, propaedeutic.
Is preparatory the same as preliminary?
They are often close in meaning, but preliminary is a common everyday word, while preparatory is more formal and specifically emphasizes preparation.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
