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

There is also an abundance of suitable training facilities in the region, which is in the circuit of MLS preseason destinations. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Among the few soccer stars who failed to shine in the 2026 tournament, Son has not returned to LAFC since the group reassembled for its second preseason. — Josh Gross, Daily News, 4 July 2026

Blorian has been training with Sporting since the team returned to a mini-preseason on June 11 and was involved in Sporting’s scrimmage with England. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026

Later in the preseason, Wright underwent a leg procedure that sidelined him for multiple weeks, while Achane also dealt with a calf injury before the start of the regular season. — Tyler M. Carmona, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preseason

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