preparatory

/prɪˈpærətri/ (bre, ipa) · /prɪˈpærətɔːri/ (ame, ipa) · /pri-ˈper-ə-ˌtȯr-ē also ˈpre-p(ə-)rə-, pri-ˈpa-rə-/ (ame, mw)

preparatory — adjective

1. describing work, study, or other actions whose purpose is to make a person or si

1.形容詞C1
釋義

describing work, study, or other actions whose purpose is to make a person or situation ready for a later, more important event or stage.

例句

Maya spent six months on preparatory research before writing the first chapter of her thesis.

preparatory + noun (research) for an upcoming task

The architect held a preparatory meeting with the council two weeks before construction began.

preparatory + meeting/talks/discussions

同義詞
  • preliminary

    very close in meaning; 'preliminary' is more common in everyday writing, while 'preparatory' stresses the readying purpose.

  • introductory

    focuses on coming first and easing someone in; less about getting fully ready.

  • preparative

    rare and bookish synonym; almost always replaced by 'preparatory' in modern English.

反義詞
  • concluding

    describes the final stage rather than the readying stage.

  • follow-up

    happens after the main event, not before it.

文法句型

preparatory + noun

preparatory to + noun/-ing

用法筆記

Almost always attributive (in front of a noun) — you say 'a preparatory meeting' but rarely 'the meeting was preparatory'. The phrase 'preparatory to' is formal and means 'before' or 'in preparation for', usually followed by a noun or -ing form.

常見錯誤

❌The meeting was preparatory.
✅It was a preparatory meeting.
💡'preparatory' normally sits in front of a noun; predicative use sounds odd.
❌Preparatory to leave the office, she packed her laptop.
✅Preparatory to leaving the office, she packed her laptop.
💡'preparatory to' takes a noun or -ing form, not a bare infinitive.