Meaning & use
pre-book
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To arrange and pay for something such as a ticket, table, or room before the time you need it.
Grammar: Takes an object: pre-book a table. It can also be used without an object in everyday speech: We pre-booked online.
Patterns
- pre-book something
- pre-book online
- pre-book in advance
You should pre-book your tickets if you want good seats.
We pre-booked a table at the restaurant for Friday night.
The museum is free, but you need to pre-book a time slot.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To reserve a place or service earlier than usual, often to get a lower price or avoid waiting.
Grammar: Can be used with or without an object: Pre-book your taxi. / We pre-booked to save time.
Patterns
- pre-book a place
- pre-book a taxi
- pre-book to avoid queues
Passengers who pre-book online usually pay less.
If you don't pre-book, you may have to wait a long time.
Word forms
| third person singular | pre-books |
|---|---|
| past tense | pre-booked |
| past participle | pre-booked |
| -ing form | pre-booking |
Common combinations
- pre-book online
- You can pre-book online and collect your tickets at the door.
- pre-book in advance
- It's cheaper to pre-book in advance.
- pre-book a table
- We pre-booked a table for six people.
- pre-book a ticket
- I pre-booked a ticket for the concert.
- strongly recommend pre-booking
- The guide strongly recommends pre-booking during the holidays.
Synonyms and how they differ
- reserve
- A more general word for keeping something for your future use; 'pre-book' often stresses doing it well before the date, especially for travel or events.
- book
- The simple verb; 'pre-book' adds the idea that you do it early, not just at the time of booking.
- schedule
- Used more for arranging times for meetings or appointments, not for buying tickets or reserving rooms.
Word family
- pre-booking noun
- The act of booking something early, or the booking itself.
- booking noun
- An arrangement made in advance for a seat, room, or service.
Commonly confused: pre-book or pre-booked?
pre-book vs pre-booked
This is the past tense or adjective form, not the base verb. Say 'I pre-book' for the present, and 'I pre-booked' for the past.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
'Pre-book' takes a direct object, so 'pre-booked the hotel' is correct. The other options add unnecessary prepositions that do not fit this pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pre-book”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.