preliminary

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​lim·​i·​nary pri-ˈli-mə-ˌner-ē 

: coming before and usually forming a necessary prelude to something else

preliminary studies

preliminary results

preliminarily

pri-ˌli-mə-ˈner-ə-lē 

adverb

preliminary

2 of 2

noun

plural preliminaries

: something that precedes or is introductory or preparatory: such as

a

: a preliminary heat or trial (as of a race)

b

: a minor match preceding the main event (as of a boxing card)

c

: a preliminary scholastic examination

d

preliminaries plural, British : front matter

Synonyms

Adjective

• beginning
• introductory
• precursory
• prefatory
• prelim
• prelusive
• preparative
• preparatory
• primary

Noun

• curtain-raiser
• overture
• preamble
• prelude
• prologue
• prolog
• warm-up

Examples of preliminary in a Sentence

Adjective

Preliminary findings show that the drug could help patients with skin cancer.

The team was eliminated in the preliminary round of the tournament.

research that is preliminary to the study

Noun

a meeting to discuss seating arrangements that was merely a preliminary to the formal negotiating sessions

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Jewish students reported harassment, intimidation, and discomfort – the Anti-Defamation League recorded at least 1,200 antisemitic incidents on college campuses in the year following Oct. 7, a 500 percent increase from the same period a year before, according to preliminary data released on Oct. 6. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 13 Oct. 2024

The crash investigation is expected to take a year but a preliminary report will be out within 30 days of the crash, according to the NTSB. —Jennifer Edwards Baker, The Enquirer, 11 Oct. 2024

Noun

In 1988: Greg Louganis won the gold medal in the 3-meter springboard at the Seoul Olympics one day after hitting his head on the diving board during the preliminaries. —Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 21 Sep. 2024

Macdonald, a 23-time X Games champion, zipped through the skate park during the preliminaries, showing off flashy moves, including a Madonna and a body varial 540. —NBC News, 8 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French préliminaires, plural, from Medieval Latin praeliminaris, adjective, preliminary, from Latin prae- pre- + limin-, limen threshold

First Known Use

Adjective

1657, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1656, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

preliminary

1 of 2 noun

pre·​lim·​i·​nary pri-ˈlim-ə-ˌner-ē 

plural preliminaries

: something preliminary

preliminary

2 of 2 adjective

: coming before the main part or item : introductory

preliminarily

-ˌlim-ə-ˈner-ə-lē 

adverb

Legal Definition

preliminary

adjective

pre·​lim·​i·​nary

pri-ˈli-mə-ˌner-ē

: coming before and usually serving as a temporary or intermediate step to something

preliminary negotiations

a preliminary payment plan

preliminarily adverb

preliminary noun