: existing or occurring before a game
a pregame party
the athlete's usual pregame meal/warm-up
The Bulls had finished their pregame shooting and were returning for the regular pregame meeting to go over the scouting report …—Sam Smith
pregamed; pregaming
US, informal
: to begin drinking alcohol before an event or activity (such as a party or a night out)
Her friends, all in their 20s and pregaming for a Saturday night out in the bars, nodded enthusiastically.—Dan Kois
On the same principle, pregaming with a few shots before you arrive is a risky maneuver. You should be relatively sober when you present your host gift and size up the situation.—Pete Wells
pregaming
noun
Pregaming … is the practice of consuming alcohol before going to a social event.
—Georgina Lawton
… students reported higher rates of pregaming and alcohol-related blackouts than national averages.
—Tess Sohngen
Cite this Entry
“Pregame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pregame. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.
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