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

Webb has been one of baseball’s most durable starters over the last five seasons, but the competitive nature of the tournament will throw a wrench into his meticulous preseason ramp-up. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026

Several league sources expect a delay that will at least reduce the length of preseason training camp; however, extensive negotiating could affect the start date of the regular season. —Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026

Atlanta United will host USL-side Lexington on Friday in its first preseason friendly. —Doug Roberson, AJC.com, 27 Jan. 2026

He was drafted in 2013, but a preseason knee injury sidelined him for nearly his entire rookie season aside from limited action on special teams. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preseason

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