preschool
gb/pɹˈiskˌul/ us/pɹˈiskˌul/
B1
English
~ 7800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
school for very young children
A school or class for very young children, usually three to five years old, before they start kindergarten or primary school.
Usage pattern:
to go to [preschool]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "preschool" with "kindergarten" or "primary school." In many places, preschool is for children around ages three to five, and kindergarten or primary school comes after that. Another common mistake is article use: in American English people often say "in preschool" without an article (e.g., "My child is in preschool"), but also "a preschool" when talking about one specific school (e.g., "We found a good preschool").
Synonyms
nursery school (Used especially in British English; very similar meaning but sometimes also includes care for slightly younger children.)
|
pre-K (Informal, mainly American English; often refers specifically to the year just before kindergarten.)
Antonyms
high school (A school for older teenagers; opposite in terms of student age level and educational stage.)
Collocations
go to preschool
|preschool teacher
|preschool education
|preschool program
|preschool classroom
|preschool curriculum
Themes
education
|family
|childhood
Examples
- Our daughter started preschool when she was three years old.
- The new community center offers a free preschool for low‑income families.
- Parents are visiting several preschools before deciding where to enroll their son.
- He made his first friends at preschool.
- The preschool closes at 3 p.m., so she leaves work early to pick up her child.
Learner examples
- My son goes to preschool three days a week.
- We visited a new preschool near our house.
- Her child will start preschool next month.
- They like this preschool because the teachers are kind.
- I work at a preschool with twenty small children.
adjective
B1
property
2
for or about very young children
About children before they start school, or about the classes and things made for them.
Usage pattern:
[preschool] [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "preschool" as a noun when they need an adjective, for example saying "He is a preschool" instead of "He is a preschool child" or "He is in preschool." Another mistake is putting an extra preposition, such as "a program of preschool for children" instead of the more natural "a preschool program for children."
Synonyms
early-childhood (Often used in educational contexts; slightly more formal and technical.)
|
pre-kindergarten (Common in North American education contexts; emphasizes the period immediately before kindergarten.)
Antonyms
school-age (Refers to children who are old enough to attend regular school, contrasting with younger, preschool children.)
Collocations
preschool children
|preschool age
|preschool education
|preschool program
|preschool activities
|preschool curriculum
Themes
education
|family
|childhood
Examples
- The museum offers special tours for preschool children.
- She is studying to become a preschool teacher.
- The government is investing more money in preschool education.
- We signed our daughter up for a preschool program that focuses on play-based learning.
- These books are designed for preschool readers with simple words and pictures.
Learner examples
- He works with preschool children every day.
- This is a preschool English class.
- They joined a preschool music program.
- She reads many preschool storybooks to her son.
- Our city has free preschool education for four‑year‑olds.
Grammar
Dictionary form
preschool
IPA
GB/pɹˈiskˌul/
US/pɹˈiskˌul/
Syllables & stress
preschool (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (preschool)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: preschool
Noun
- Base: preschool
- Plural: preschools
Word family
Expressions
preschool age
1/pɹˈiskˌul ˈeɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
age before starting school
The time when a child is usually three to five years old, before going to kindergarten or primary school.
Examples
- Children of preschool age need a lot of playtime and care.
- The new program is only for kids of preschool age.
preschool classroom
1/pɹˈiskˌul klˈæsɹˌum/
fixed phrase
classroom for very young children
A room where very young children learn and play at preschool.
Examples
- The preschool classroom is full of toys and colorful posters.
- Each preschool classroom has two adults to help the children.
preschool education
1/pɹˈiskˌul ˌɛd͡ʒəkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
education for very young children
Teaching and learning for children before they go to kindergarten or primary school.
Examples
- Preschool education can help children develop social skills.
- The government plans to improve access to preschool education in rural areas.
preschool program
1/pɹˈiskˌul pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæm/
fixed phrase
organized classes for preschoolers
A planned set of classes and activities for children before they start school.
Examples
- We enrolled our son in a morning preschool program.
- The preschool program focuses on play and language development.
preschool teacher
1/pɹˈiskˌul tˈit͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
teacher of very young children
A person whose job is to teach children before they start regular school.
Examples
- She works as a preschool teacher at a private school.
- Preschool teachers need a lot of patience and creativity.