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

The preseason play wasn’t encouraging, and Canales’ decision to rest the starters in the exhibition finale looks even more puzzling in hindsight, especially after the offensive group produced three three-and-outs and one touchdown drive. —Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025

Hill missed nearly a month of training camp and preseason with an oblique injury. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025

Minnesota was cautious with McCarthy during the preseason. —Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025

Defensively, the Wildcats are led by two preseason All-Americans, linebacker Will Shaffer and defensive lineman Kaghen Roach. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preseason

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