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.
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Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024
As the author’s prefatory note indicates, the book centers on the discovery, in 2001, of an unidentified Black boy’s remains in the River Thames.
—Gboyega Odubanjo, The New Yorker, 24 June 2024
As Chin writes in a prefatory author’s note, her family’s history traveled down to her primarily via oral history.
—Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 27 Apr. 2023
But even before her characters intersect, familiar objects — a dreidel, nesting dolls, exquisitely carved chess pieces — keep popping up in prefatory monologues and the stories themselves.
—Julia M. Klein, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Mar. 2023
Venice opens with a prefatory poem recalling a trip from Beirut to Cyprus, the birthplace of Aphrodite.
—Dan Chiasson, The New York Review of Books, 7 Sep. 2022
What might have gone down as an odd concert experience was energized by Taylor’s prefatory joke inviting us to imagine FBI agents singing this song during their recent search at Mar-a-Lago.
—W. Anthony Sheppard, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2022
After this prefatory video ends, a door automatically slides open, giving access to a chamber that evokes the exterior of Tut’s royal tomb, the only largely intact one ever found in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 23 June 2022
These prefatory remarks are by way of setting up the following chronology — without any claims of causation.
—Bryan A. Garner, National Review, 17 Feb. 2022
Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2024
As the author’s prefatory note indicates, the book centers on the discovery, in 2001, of an unidentified Black boy’s remains in the River Thames.
—Gboyega Odubanjo, The New Yorker, 24 June 2024
As Chin writes in a prefatory author’s note, her family’s history traveled down to her primarily via oral history.
—Rhoda Feng, Washington Post, 27 Apr. 2023
But even before her characters intersect, familiar objects — a dreidel, nesting dolls, exquisitely carved chess pieces — keep popping up in prefatory monologues and the stories themselves.
—Julia M. Klein, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Mar. 2023
Venice opens with a prefatory poem recalling a trip from Beirut to Cyprus, the birthplace of Aphrodite.
—Dan Chiasson, The New York Review of Books, 7 Sep. 2022
What might have gone down as an odd concert experience was energized by Taylor’s prefatory joke inviting us to imagine FBI agents singing this song during their recent search at Mar-a-Lago.
—W. Anthony Sheppard, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2022
After this prefatory video ends, a door automatically slides open, giving access to a chamber that evokes the exterior of Tut’s royal tomb, the only largely intact one ever found in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 23 June 2022
These prefatory remarks are by way of setting up the following chronology — without any claims of causation.
—Bryan A. Garner, National Review, 17 Feb. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prefatory
Adjective
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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
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This Sunday marks the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the final week in the preparatory period before Christmas.Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 22 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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During his introductory press conference, Harbaugh used a Harbaughism to describe the new mindset of the franchise.David Faris, Newsweek, 28 Dec. 2024
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Runner up: Angel Reese's introductory press conference.Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Biden concluded 2024 with 3,248 rules (again preliminary), compared to 3,018 in 2023.Clyde Wayne Crews Jr., Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
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Czechia continues its chase for its first gold medal since 2001 with its final preliminary matchup against Sweden, the other undefeated team in Group B. One can only assume a gold medal would do wonders for Holinka’s confidence.Sarah Jean Maher, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near prefatory
Cite this Entry
“Prefatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prefatory. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
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