pre
pre Lexical Profile
pre Game Scores & Validity
• preposition
Before; prior to (a specified time, event, or period).
"Property prices in the city center were significantly lower pre the financial crash."
• adjective
Previous, earlier, or occurring prior to a specified event or stage.
"The comparison between the pre and post states of the experiment revealed a dramatic shift in cellular growth."
• noun
British A preliminary examination, race, or social gathering where people consume alcoholic drinks before going out to a nightclub or main event (usually in plural 'pres').
"We are hosting pres at our flat at eight o'clock before heading into town."
Word Nuance & Usage
While primarily an inseparable prefix ('pre-'), 'pre' is increasingly used in informal prose and journalism as a standalone preposition meaning 'before' (e.g., 'pre the pandemic').
• Rhymes for pre
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Latin preposition and prefix 'prae', meaning 'before' or 'in front of', which evolved into a standalone word in modern English alongside clipped forms of 'preliminary' and 'pre-drink'.