preseason

noun

pre·​sea·​son ˌprē-ˈsē-zᵊn 

ˈprē-ˌsē-zᵊn

plural preseasons

: a period of time immediately preceding a season

tourists who visit during the preseason

especially : a training period preceding a sport's regular season in which teams compete in unofficial games

The preseason starts in two weeks.

performed well in (the) preseason

Quarterback John Friesz was lost for the year in the preseason to knee surgery.

—Paul Zimmerman

Dennis Rodman's mysterious boycott finally ended on Monday when he arrived for practice for the first time since the start of preseason.

—Jack McCallum

preseason adjective

preseason football

preseason training

the preseason opener/finale

preseason rankings/polls

the preseason favorite

Examples of preseason in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

They are led by Angel Reese, acquired in a preseason trade, who is the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year and a mainstream celebrity who has appeared at the Met Gala and in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2026

After Antetokounmpo and most of the other Heat rotation regulars sat out Saturday’s preseason loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Antetokounmpo and most of the other Heat rotation regulars played Wednesday. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026

The senior earned All-Big 12 honors last season and was the lone Horned Frog to earn preseason All-Big 12 honors. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Oct. 2026

The Tigers will be without preseason All-American linebacker Xavier Atkins, who is out unrelated to injury. — Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preseason

• milesian
• partizan
• postseason
• unreason
• reason
• season
• seizin
• treason