as in requirements
something that must exist or happen before something else can exist or happen
An education is an important precondition for getting a good job. They insist on a guarantee as a precondition to the deal.
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Recent Examples of preconditions
Those funds pay for emergency shelters, transitional housing and rapid rehousing programs – which provide temporary rental assistance and the assistance of a social worker, without preconditions – and permanent supportive housing.
—
Deyanira Nevárez Martínez, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026
These are the best preconditions to introduce Name Tag, brought to you by Meta and Ray-Ban.
—Sarah Jeong, The Verge, 1 Mar. 2026
Zelensky has agreed to meet Putin just about anywhere but Moscow, with no preconditions.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
While this market has those preconditions—a revolutionary technology and spectacular profit growth—the cycle has not yet reached the terminal phase where insiders rush for the exits.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
The idea arose when, as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western artists began to write and create art about the preconditions and reasons behind Russia’s actions.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Qatar has hosted multiple rounds of talks since April between the Congo and M23, mainly to set preconditions for a peace deal and agree on confidence-building steps, but both sides still accuse each other of violating peace terms and fighting has continued.
—CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
Trump is fully capable of spinning a narrative that would claim one of those preconditions, even while having no resemblance to the truth.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Build Preconditions First Start with the preconditions.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Deyanira Nevárez Martínez, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026
These are the best preconditions to introduce Name Tag, brought to you by Meta and Ray-Ban.
—Sarah Jeong, The Verge, 1 Mar. 2026
Zelensky has agreed to meet Putin just about anywhere but Moscow, with no preconditions.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
While this market has those preconditions—a revolutionary technology and spectacular profit growth—the cycle has not yet reached the terminal phase where insiders rush for the exits.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
The idea arose when, as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western artists began to write and create art about the preconditions and reasons behind Russia’s actions.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Qatar has hosted multiple rounds of talks since April between the Congo and M23, mainly to set preconditions for a peace deal and agree on confidence-building steps, but both sides still accuse each other of violating peace terms and fighting has continued.
—CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025
Trump is fully capable of spinning a narrative that would claim one of those preconditions, even while having no resemblance to the truth.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
Build Preconditions First Start with the preconditions.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preconditions
Noun
-
If a teammate pushes for an answer, share your requirements and propose a reasonable timeframe that respects both schedules.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The Florida requirements would take effect next year.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
On the restricted side of the budget, where funds are spent on necessities that are restricted to specific expenses, revenues are $33 million while expenses are $35 million, Long said.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
-
About a quarter of Americans today live paycheck to paycheck, spending more than 95% of their income on necessities.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There have been outbreaks of tuberculosis and measles at the site, and ICE officers have used the dangerously subpar conditions to pressure detainees to sign papers authorizing their deportation.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
-
With heavy snow and blizzard conditions expected in the Twin Cities starting late Saturday and lasting through the day on Sunday, there was concern about whether the Maple Leafs’ team plane would be able to arrive as scheduled after Toronto played a Saturday night game in Buffalo.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And unfortunately, in all those cases, there are important prerequisites, the most important of which is serious organization.—
Hanna Rosin,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Distance and safety became prerequisites for healing.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preconditions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preconditions. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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