preprogram

verb

pre·pro·gram ˌprē-ˈprō-ˌgram

-grəm

variants or pre-program

preprogrammed or pre-programmed; preprogramming or pre-programming

transitive + intransitive

: to program (something or someone) in advance

Users preprogram their contacts into the app, and with the press of a button, the app will automatically text those contacts.—

Issi Lapowsky

In commercial or industrial buildings you could preprogram lighting cycles …—

Trevor Pott

… before birth we are preprogrammed with a wide amplitude of longevity prospects, intelligence and physical capabilities.—

Ken Miller

preprogrammed

ˌprē-ˈprō-ˌgramd

-grəmd

adjective

or pre-programmed

preprogrammed settings/instructions

a preprogrammed flight plan

genetically preprogrammed behavior

preprogramming noun

or pre-programming

… no preprogramming is involved and a vision system isn't required to map the terrain. Instead, the elastic actuators that make up the robot's legs conform to the surface it's walking on … —

Brian Heater

For example, we inherited a belief that there are 365 days in each year. … By default, we've accepted this preprogramming through habit and belief in truth set by others. —

Aaron Anson

Examples of preprogram in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Instead of trying to preprogram actions, Microsoft decided to teach its gaming technology to recognize gestures in real time just like a human does: by extrapolating from experience. —

Susan Kuchinskas, Scientific American, 7 Jan. 2010 The serendipity involved represents a key element of the art of traveling: not needing to control or preprogram your experience, letting things unfold organically and taking the chance to be delighted by the unexpected. —

Washington Post, 13 Jan. 2022