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
Among Muslim countries, Qatar makes sense on a logistical level because that is where all the preparatory work took place, including the brainstorming sessions that generated the office idea and the early meetings with the Taliban's leadership envoy.
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Michael Semple, Foreign Affairs, 9 Jan. 2012
What Happens Next Construction is slated to begin in 2025, with preparatory work such as land acquisition and environmental impact assessments already underway.
—Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
This Sunday marks the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the final week in the preparatory period before Christmas.
—Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 22 Dec. 2024
Full negative processing, two months preparatory work, tests, 42 shooting days, with the participation of 10 NFI Filmlab professionals.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for preparatory 
Michael Semple, Foreign Affairs, 9 Jan. 2012
What Happens Next Construction is slated to begin in 2025, with preparatory work such as land acquisition and environmental impact assessments already underway.
—Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
This Sunday marks the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the final week in the preparatory period before Christmas.
—Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 22 Dec. 2024
Full negative processing, two months preparatory work, tests, 42 shooting days, with the participation of 10 NFI Filmlab professionals.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for preparatory
Thesaurus Entries Near preparatory
Cite this Entry
“Preparatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preparatory. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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