Discover a list of words starting with the prefix “pre” and learn their meanings and uses.
- Preach- To deliver a religious message or moral lesson publicly.
- Precaution- Action taken in advance to prevent harm or secure good results.
- Precedent- An earlier event or action regarded as an example or guide for future circumstances.
- Precept- A general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought.
- Precinct- A district of a city or town as defined for police or administrative purposes.
- Precious- Of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly.
- Precise- Marked by exact accuracy and attention to detail.
- Preclude- Prevent from happening; make impossible.
- Precook- Cook (food) beforehand so that it can be prepared quickly.
- Precursor- A person or thing that comes before another of the same kind; a forerunner.
- Predator- An animal that naturally preys on others.
- Predecessor- A person who held a job or office before the current holder.
- Prediction- A statement about what will happen in the future.
- Predispose- Make someone liable or inclined to a specific attitude, action, or condition.
- Predominant- Present as the strongest or main element.
- Preempt- Take action in order to prevent (an event) from happening.
- Preemptive- Serving to forestall something, especially to prevent an attack by striking first.
- Preen- (of a bird) clean and straighten its feathers with its beak; (of people) devote effort to making oneself look attractive and then admire one’s appearance.
- Preface- An introduction to a book, typically stating its subject, scope, or aims.
- Prefer- Liken better one thing to another.
- Preference- A greater liking for one alternative over another or others.
- Prefix- A word, letter, or number placed before another.
- Pregnant- (of a woman or female animal) having a child or young developing in the uterus.
- Prejudice- Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.
- Preliminary- Denoting an action or event preceding or done in preparation for something fuller or more important.
- Premature- Occurring or done before the usual or proper time; too early.
- Premise- A previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion.
- Premium- An amount to be paid for an insurance policy or something in addition to the usual cost.
- Preoccupy- Dominate or engross the mind of (someone) to the exclusion of other thoughts.
- Preparation- The action or process of making ready or being made ready for use or consideration.
- Preparatory- Serving as a preparation; introductory.
- Preponderance- The quality or fact of being greater in number, quantity, or importance.
- Presage- (of an event) to be a sign or warning that (something, typically something bad) will happen.
- Preschool- An educational institution for children too young to attend school.
- Prescribe- Advise and authorize the use of (a medicine or treatment) for someone, especially in writing.
- Presence- The state or fact of existing, occurring, or being present.
- Present- The period of time now occurring; a gift.
- Preservation- The action of preserving something.
- Preside- Be in the position of authority in a meeting or other gathering.
- Press- Move or cause to move into a position of contact with something by exerting continuous physical force.
- Pressure- The continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it.
- Prestige- Widespread respect and admiration felt for someone or something based on a perception of their achievements or quality.
- Presume- Suppose that something is the case on the basis of probability.
- Presumptuous- (of a person or their behavior) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.
- Pretend- Speak and act so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not.
- Pretense- An attempt to make something that is not the case appear true.
- Pretext- A reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason.
- Prevail- Prove more powerful than opposing forces; be victorious.
- Prevalent- Widespread in a particular area or at a particular time.
- Prevent- Keep (something) from happening or arising.
- Preview- An inspection or viewing of something before it is acquired or becomes generally known and available.
- Previous- Existing or occurring before in time or order.
- Prey- An animal that is hunted and killed by another for food.
- Prez- Slang for president.
- Precipitate- Cause (an event or situation, typically one that is bad or undesirable) to happen suddenly, unexpectedly, or prematurely.
- Preclude- Prevent from happening; make impossible.
- Preamble- A preliminary or preparatory statement; an introduction.
- Precipitous- Dangerously high or steep.
- Preferential- Of or involving preference or partiality; constituting a favor or privilege.
- Prefigure- Be an early indication or version of (something).
- Prehensile- (especially of an animal’s limb or tail) Capable of grasping.
- Prejudicial- Harmful to someone or something; detrimental.
- Prelate- A bishop or other high ecclesiastical dignitary.
- Preponderate- Predominate in influence, number, or importance.
- Prescient- Having or showing knowledge of events before they take place.
- Preservative- Something used to preserve, especially an additive that is added to food.
- Pressure- The use of persuasion, influence, or intimidation to make someone do something.
- Prestigious- Inspiring respect and admiration; having high status.
- Presumption- An idea that is taken to be true on the basis of probability.
- Pretension- A claim or assertion of a claim to something.
- Prevaricate- Speak or act in an evasive way.
- Primordial- Existing at or from the beginning of time; primeval.
- Prerogative- A right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class.
- Presidium- A governing committee, especially a communist party committee.
- Preinstall- Install (software or hardware) in advance.
- Prestidigitation- Magic tricks performed as entertainment.
- Prequel- A story or movie that is set before the events of an existing work.
- Preordain- Decide or determine (an outcome or course of action) beforehand.
- Preponderantly- Mostly or mainly.
- Prescreen- Evaluate (potential candidates for a job, applicants for a position, etc.) before hiring.
- Preselect- Choose in advance.
- Pretrain- Train (someone) in advance.
- Preenact- Enact (a law or regulation) beforehand.
- Prerenal- Relating to or affecting the parts of the body before the kidneys.
- Predestine- Determine (an outcome or course of action) beforehand by divine will or fate.
- Preconscious- The thoughts and feelings not yet in conscious awareness.
- Preclearance- Prior approval or permission.
- Precognition- Foreknowledge of an event.
- Preamp- An electronic device that amplifies weak electrical signals.
- Preform- Shape or form (something) beforehand.
- Preshrink- Subject (fabric or clothing) to a process that minimizes shrinkage when washed.
- Presift- Sift in advance.
- Preapprove- Approve (something) in advance.
- Prefund- Provide funding for (a project or activity) prior to it being carried out.
- Preexist- Exist at an earlier time or before.
- Preinfuse- Infuse beforehand.
- Preliterate- Belonging to a time before a written language was in use.
- Premillennial- Occurring before the millennium.
- Preteen- A young person who is from 9 to 12 years old.
- Preventive- Designed to stop something undesirable from occurring.