preparatory

Adjective

Positive preparatory

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. (usually before a noun) Preparatory work, meetings, etc. are related to getting ready for something.

   Most of the preparatory work had been done, but the building had not actually started.

Related words

• preparatory school
• prepare
• preparation

Preposition

Preposition preparatory

1. (formal) If ${\displaystyle x}$ is preparatory to ${\displaystyle y}$, ${\displaystyle x}$ happens before ${\displaystyle y}$ to get ready for ${\displaystyle y}$.

   They began gathering equipment preparatory to climbing the mountain.