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
The prefatory pause gives the audience a chance to applaud a starry ensemble.
—
Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024
Could be that fans were simply exhausted by all the prefatory ugliness that led up to Washington’s first playoff victory in 18 years, but anyone who tuned out early missed a hell of a star turn from the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024
Could be that fans were simply exhausted by all the prefatory ugliness that led up to Washington’s first playoff victory in 18 years, but anyone who tuned out early missed a hell of a star turn from the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefatory
Adjective
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The Champions Trophy exit was equally passive after a dreadful showing in the preparatory bilateral series against India.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Midday Friday, the military changed course, marking the latest escalation after weeks of preparatory strikes in some of the city’s neighborhoods and calling up tens of thousands of reservists.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Team president Chris Drury and coach Mike Sullivan addressed reporters Wednesday from the MSG Training Center for the first time in person since Sullivan’s May 8 introductory press conference.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
18 Sep. 2025
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Just like the Nômade property in Tulum, Nômade Temple Holbox is mindfulness focused to the core, offering experiences ranging from introductory yoga classes to more out-there wellness experiences like lucid dreaming sound journeys.—
Carley Rojas Ávila,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Detectives are searching for the vehicle the suspect used in the shooting and Gamble clarified the investigation is too preliminary to determine a motive yet.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
20 Sep. 2025
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Authorities described the findings as preliminary and said identification would rely on forensic testing, a step that determines whether charges or other legal steps change as the investigation continues.—
Daniel Orton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prefatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefatory. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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