pregame

adjective pre·game \ ˈprē-ˌgām \

|Updated on: 23 Jul 2018

Definition of pregame

: 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

See pregame defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of pregame from the Web

Add that moment to the growing amount of Icelandic football lore, from the Viking Clap and the federation’s smart investment on the game’s grassroots, to Hallgrímsson’s dental practice and his pregame tactics sessions with supporters.

— brian straus, SI.com, "Iceland Excels Playing Its Way to Secure Another Famous Point Worth Celebrating," 16 June 2018
More than a dozen Patriots players knelt during the pregame anthem prior to the game immediately following Trump’s comments, while the rest of the team locked arms in a show of unity.

— BostonGlobe.com, "In interview with Oprah, Tom Brady praises impact of players kneeling during the anthem," 15 June 2018
During his campaign for the presidency, Trump singled out Colin Kaepernick for criticism, after the then-49ers quarterback began sitting and kneeling during pregame renditions of the anthem.

— des bieler, chicagotribune.com, "Trump praises NASCAR for its lack of protests during national anthem," 22 May 2018
The rain was temporary, but the tarp remained on the field at 6:35 p.m., and the grounds crew had not yet done the standard pregame preparations of the infield.

— jon meoli, baltimoresun.com, "Start of Saturday's Orioles-Tigers game delayed by rain," 28 Apr. 2018
Let the club explain it: The Clydesdale Cart on Crosley Terrace (outside the gates near Joe Morgan & Pete Rose statues) will serve $5 24 oz. Budweiser beers during a pregame happy hour.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Paul Daugherty: Let's raise a glass to the Cincinnati Reds' Clydesdale Cart," 27 Mar. 2018
Before that decision, Marian Ward, then a Santa Fe High band member who led pregame prayer, had filed her own lawsuit, arguing that the lower court’s restrictions violated her constitutional right to free speech and freedom of religion.

— brittney martin, Washington Post, "Praying the pain away: Christianity’s presence at Santa Fe High grows after shooting," 26 May 2018
The turkey also accompanied Louisville captains to midfield for the pregame coin toss.

— ron higgins, NOLA.com, "LSU's Ed Orgeron might be a bit crazy, but it's whatever gets the job done," 16 May 2018
On the front steps of Roosevelt High School in Seattle on Saturday morning, pregame excitement for a soccer match was in the air.

— New York Times, "New Reality for High School Students: Calculating the Risk of Getting Shot," 20 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pregame.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of pregame

1906

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

pregame

verb pre·game \ ˌprē-ˈgām \

Definition of pregame

pregamed; pregaming

intransitive verb

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

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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