1. serving as or carrying out preparation for something; preliminary

Examples

• Students must complete preparatory courses before entering the advanced program.
• The team held preparatory meetings before the big presentation.
• She attended a preparatory school in New England.
• The chef did all the preparatory work in the morning.
• Preparatory exercises help prevent injury during workouts.
• The preparatory phase of the project took three months.
• He made preparatory notes before writing his essay.