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 $x$ is preparatory to $y$, $x$ happens before $y$ to get ready for $y$.

   They began gathering equipment preparatory to climbing the mountain.