as in earlier
so as to precede something in order of time
the sick children were examined preliminarily by the nurse to determine if they had a rash
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of preliminarily
Temperatures are preliminarily expected to jump up to the mid-20s, as gusty winds continue.
—
Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
Sheriff’s officials said the inmate was preliminarily believed to have died from medical complications and that no foul play was suspected at this time.
—Sacbee.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Further, Bryant said officers had recovered weapons from his home, including one whose ballistics were preliminarily linked to the homicides.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
She was pronounced dead at the scene, but police preliminarily classified it as a death investigation.
—Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
Shapiro said that preliminarily it is suspected to have been from a gas leak.
—Phil Helsel, NBC news, 23 Dec. 2025
After Mangione was arrested and his backpack was preliminarily searched at McDonald’s by Officer Wasser and Officer Stephen Fox, his belongings were transported to the Altoona police precinct.
—Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 20 Dec. 2025
The mayor said a person preliminarily thought to be involved was detained but was later determined to have no involvement.
—Kimberlee Kruesi, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2025
The pan-European Stoxx 600 preliminarily closed in the green, with most sectors and major regional bourses mixed.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2025
Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
Sheriff’s officials said the inmate was preliminarily believed to have died from medical complications and that no foul play was suspected at this time.
—Sacbee.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Further, Bryant said officers had recovered weapons from his home, including one whose ballistics were preliminarily linked to the homicides.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
She was pronounced dead at the scene, but police preliminarily classified it as a death investigation.
—Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
Shapiro said that preliminarily it is suspected to have been from a gas leak.
—Phil Helsel, NBC news, 23 Dec. 2025
After Mangione was arrested and his backpack was preliminarily searched at McDonald’s by Officer Wasser and Officer Stephen Fox, his belongings were transported to the Altoona police precinct.
—Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 20 Dec. 2025
The mayor said a person preliminarily thought to be involved was detained but was later determined to have no involvement.
—Kimberlee Kruesi, Fortune, 14 Dec. 2025
The pan-European Stoxx 600 preliminarily closed in the green, with most sectors and major regional bourses mixed.
—Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preliminarily
Adverb
-
Moreover, America is already committed to defending Greenland against aggression via Article V of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.—
Peter Juul Tribune News Service,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Ventura, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties already conduct such blood transfusions, according to the letter.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Good readers scan text, skip ahead, go back a few paragraphs or pages, and nimbly pick out relevant sections.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Invoking the 250th birthday of the United States and Massachusetts’ role in the American Revolution, Healey compared residents to that of the earliest days of the country, saying Bay Stater’s strength will get everyone through the challenges ahead.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
This pioneering anthology changed the direction of Yiddish studies, bringing to light previously untranslated short fiction and memoirs by eighteen Yiddish women writers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Scott’s deputy, John Modlin, who had previously been the head of Border Patrol in Tucson, Arizona, was given seven days to decide whether to resign, retire, or relocate his family to Boston for an unrelated homeland security job.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Gordon missed 19 consecutive games earlier this season with the same injury.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
24 Jan. 2026
-
After earning Korn Ferry status last year, Brown played his way through the circuit including at the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic earlier this week.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The event at the end of January will feature 400 luminaries, about double the amount from the year before, and will include stories shared by residents, a moment of silence for the hurting community, and collection for donations.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
-
An avalanche killed nine members of a single family in northwestern Pakistan on Friday while a heavy snowstorm the day before in neighboring Afghanistan left 11 people dead, officials said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preliminarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preliminarily. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
