Grammar and word types

Words with the prefix pre and what it means

The prefix pre- means before or in advance, and it appears in many everyday and academic words. This list highlights common pre- words so learners can recognize the pattern and predict the meaning of unfamiliar words that use it.

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Words with the prefix pre and what it means

Word	Meaning	In a sentence
previewnoun	An advance showing or sample of something, such as a film or product, before its full release.	The magazine published a preview of the video game months before its official launch.
predictverb	To say what you think will happen in the future.	The dark clouds led us to predict rain before evening.
prepareverb	To make something or someone ready for a particular purpose or event.	She spent the whole afternoon preparing dinner before the guests arrived for the party.
preventverb	To stop something from happening or stop someone from doing something.	Wearing a helmet can prevent serious head injuries during a bicycle accident.
precautionnoun	An action taken in advance to prevent harm, danger, or an unwanted outcome.	As a precaution, the school closed early before the storm arrived.
preschoolnoun	A school for young children, typically before they begin kindergarten or elementary school.	Their daughter started preschool last September at the age of three.
pretestnoun	A test given before a course of study or treatment to measure existing knowledge or ability.	The teacher gave a pretest on fractions to see which skills the class already understood.
preheatverb	To heat something, especially an oven, to a desired temperature before using it.	Preheat the oven to 350 degrees before you put the cake in.
prehistoricadjective	Relating to the very distant past, before humans began keeping written historical records.	The museum displayed the bones of a prehistoric creature that lived millions of years ago.
prematureadjective	Happening, arriving, or being done earlier than the normal, expected, or proper time.	The baby was born premature and spent two weeks in the hospital.
preoccupiedadjective	So focused on one thought or concern that little attention is given to anything else.	He was too preoccupied with work to notice his coffee had gone cold.
preorderverb	To order a product before it is officially released or available for purchase.	Fans preordered the new video game months before its release date.
prepayverb	To pay for something before receiving it or before the payment is due.	Many phone plans require customers to prepay for a month of service.
presetadjective	Set or arranged in advance, before it is used or needed.	The microwave has a preset button that automatically heats a cup of coffee.
presideverb	To be in charge of or control a meeting, ceremony, or organization.	The retired judge was asked to preside over the trial because of her experience.
precedeverb	To come before something else in time, order, rank, or position.	A brief introduction will precede the keynote speaker's main presentation.
prejudgeverb	To form an opinion about someone or something before knowing all the relevant facts.	Try not to prejudge the new employee based on rumors you have heard.
preliminaryadjective	Coming before the main part of something, often as preparation or introduction.	The preliminary results of the study suggested the new drug was effective.
prenataladjective	Relating to the period before birth, especially concerning a pregnant woman and her unborn child.	The clinic offers prenatal care to monitor the health of mother and baby.
prepackagedadjective	Packaged in advance, before being sold or distributed, rather than prepared fresh.	They bought prepackaged salad to save time before the picnic.
prequelnoun	A book, film, or show that tells a story set before the events of an earlier work.	The studio released a prequel explaining how the villain became so powerful.
prerequisitenoun	Something required beforehand as a necessary condition for something else to happen.	Completing the introductory course is a prerequisite for the advanced class.
preseasonnoun	The period, or the games and practices, that happen before an official sports season begins.	The team played several preseason games to prepare for the regular schedule.
presidentnoun	The elected head of state of a republic, or the leader of an organization, company, or club.	The president addressed the nation about the new economic plan.
previousadjective	Existing or happening before the one being discussed.	The previous owner planted the pear tree.

What does the prefix pre- mean?

The prefix pre- comes from Latin and means before or in advance. Adding it to a base word shifts the meaning earlier in time: view becomes preview, meaning to see before something happens; heat becomes preheat, meaning to heat before use; and school becomes preschool, meaning before school age. Recognizing this pattern helps learners work out the meaning of unfamiliar pre- words without needing a dictionary.

Frequently asked questions

What does the prefix pre- mean?

Pre- means before or in advance, so a word like preview literally means to view something before it happens.

What are some examples of words with the prefix pre-?

Common examples include predict, prepare, prevent, preschool, and prehistoric.