# preschool

/ˈpɹiˌskuɫ/ (US) · /pɹˈiːskuːl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/preschool
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. early childhood school

noun · CEFR A2

a school for children between the ages of about three and five.

For teachers: an educational establishment for children too young for compulsory primary education, typically serving the three-to-five age range.

- The children learn to share and play together at preschool.
- Enrolling the twins in a local preschool helped them develop the social skills necessary for a smooth transition to primary school next year.

Usage: Often used without an article in phrases like 'at preschool' or 'go to preschool'.

Teaching tip: In the US, 'preschool' usually precedes 'kindergarten', whereas in other regions, 'preschool' may include the kindergarten year.

### 2. relating to early childhood

adjective · CEFR B1

describing the years of a child's life before they start primary school.

For teachers: relating to the period in a child's life between infancy and the start of formal primary education.

- Many preschool children enjoy listening to stories and drawing pictures.
- The study focused on the cognitive development of preschool children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.

Usage: Attributive use only; it always appears before the noun it describes.

### 3. to attend or provide nursery school

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to go to preschool or to provide that kind of education for a child.

For teachers: to educate a child in a nursery school setting or to attend such an institution.

- They decided to preschool their daughter at a Montessori centre.
- The government is looking for ways to ensure that every child is preschooling by the age of four.

Usage: Can be used transitively with the child as the object or intransitively.

## Examples

- My daughter loves her teachers at preschool.
- Many parents choose a preschool that focuses on play-based learning to help their children develop social skills.
- Research suggests that high-quality preschool programs can significantly improve long-term academic outcomes by establishing foundational cognitive and emotional regulation skills during a child's most formative years.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.