as in preparatory
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows
in prefatory remarks he offered his own definition of "civilization", a word subject to a variety of interpretations
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Recent Examples of prefatory
There was a prefatory letter by Archibald MacLeish, a professor at Harvard and a former Librarian of Congress, and an introduction by Mark Schorer, a professor of English at Berkeley, along with blurbs from other eminent men of letters.
—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Despite some discouraging downward trends, all the prefatory jawing could go a long way toward siphoning off a fair number of viewers who might otherwise be locked in on the NFL.
—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
25 Sep. 2025
The prefatory pause gives the audience a chance to applaud a starry ensemble.
—
Helen Shaw,
The New Yorker,
13 Dec. 2024
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Despite some discouraging downward trends, all the prefatory jawing could go a long way toward siphoning off a fair number of viewers who might otherwise be locked in on the NFL.
—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
25 Sep. 2025
The prefatory pause gives the audience a chance to applaud a starry ensemble.
—
Helen Shaw,
The New Yorker,
13 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefatory
Adjective
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Another measure to speed up the preparatory studies proposes that when a power plant operator and a large load customer of a similar size both apply for access to the grid, only one study of the impact of both players joining should be conducted, rather than sequential studies.
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Separate preparatory meetings with each side are set to take place in Doha this week, ahead of the official signing in Switzerland and the start of the technical talks, the diplomat said.
Adjective
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Consider starting each rule section with a positive introductory statement.
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The introductory course for PPEL required students to read, on average, just twenty-seven pages a week.
Adjective
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Prominent civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Van Turner, who are representing the family of Kohen Wiley, released preliminary findings from the independent autopsy during a news conference on July 1.
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The sheriff's office says a preliminary investigation found that workers were installing underground tanks.
Cite this Entry
“Prefatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefatory. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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