What does the prefix 'pre-' mean?

• A. Before
• B. After
• C. Bad
• D. Inside

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how prefixes change meaning. The prefix pre- means before or earlier in time. When you add pre- to a base word, you’re signaling that the action or state happens before the main event. For example, when you preheat an oven, you heat it before cooking. A preview is something you see before it’s shown to others, and something prehistoric existed before written history. So pre- consistently indicates “before,” which is why that choice is the best fit. If you see other options like after or inside, those ideas come from different prefixes (post- for after, and in- or inside-related forms for inside), not from pre-.