preschool

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​school ˈprē-ˌskül 

(ˌ)prē-ˈskül

: of, relating to, or constituting the period in a child's life that ordinarily precedes attendance at elementary school

preschool

2 of 2

noun

pre·​school ˈprē-ˌskül 

: a school for children usually younger than those attending elementary school or kindergarten : nursery school

Synonyms

Noun

• crèche
• day nursery
• nursery
• nursery school
• pre-K
• prekindergarten

Examples of preschool in a Sentence

Noun

children excited about starting preschool

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Each activity is designed to be hands-on, and they’re created by a preschool teacher who has worked extensively with kids. —Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025

And preschool teachers, whose pay is typically much lower than that of K-12 educators, are more likely to be stressed and depressed. —Eileen Finan, People.com, 17 Apr. 2025

Noun

In February, Munn spoke with PEOPLE at the TIME Women of the Year Gala in Los Angeles, Calif., and opened up about how her son has recently been transitioning into preschool. —Hannah Sacks, People.com, 22 Apr. 2025

Reynolds has said this bill is important because of the educational benefits kids get from preschool. —Linh Ta, Axios, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1914, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preschool

• ampoule
• bascule
• carpool
• cesspool
• ferrule
• footstool
• guayule
• lobule
• misrule
• pustule
• whirlpool
• boule

Kids Definition

preschool

1 of 2 adjective

pre·​school ˈprē-ˌskül 

: of, relating to, or being the period in a child's life to the age of five or six that ordinarily precedes attendance at school

preschool

2 of 2 noun

: a school for children usually younger than those attending elementary school or kindergarten : nursery school