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
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
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 Patriots have not played in the league’s annual preseason opener since 2000, and some years the league schedules the former teams of its newest inductees to play outside Canton during Hall of Fame weekend.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Dec. 2025
And while this is the first time the schools have met in Kansas City for a game that counted since 1997, and first-ever meeting in T-Mobile Center other than the 2017 preseason fundraiser, Gates understands how the ticket distribution has gone for what is considered a KU home game.
—Kansas City Star, 6 Dec. 2025
Luis Santana was a 5-foot-8, 155-pound freshman in the late summer of 2022 when the Panthers lined up for a preseason scrimmage against Class 5A powerhouse Cherry Creek.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 6 Dec. 2025
After facing off twice during the preseason and then in the regular-season opener, Friday’s game in Orlando already marked the fourth time that the Heat and Magic have played each other since the start of October.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Dec. 2025
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Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 7 Dec. 2025
And while this is the first time the schools have met in Kansas City for a game that counted since 1997, and first-ever meeting in T-Mobile Center other than the 2017 preseason fundraiser, Gates understands how the ticket distribution has gone for what is considered a KU home game.
—Kansas City Star, 6 Dec. 2025
Luis Santana was a 5-foot-8, 155-pound freshman in the late summer of 2022 when the Panthers lined up for a preseason scrimmage against Class 5A powerhouse Cherry Creek.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 6 Dec. 2025
After facing off twice during the preseason and then in the regular-season opener, Friday’s game in Orlando already marked the fourth time that the Heat and Magic have played each other since the start of October.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preseason
Cite this Entry
“Preseason.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preseason. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
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