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

Any lofty preseason thoughts that accompanied Imai’s arrival now seem outsized. —Chandler Rome, New York Times, 13 May 2026

But a leg injury in preseason and other knocks have kept him out of the lineup. —Michelle Kaufman may 12, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026

Fernandez earned the deal after a two-month trial with the team, appearing in a preseason match against New Mexico United. —ABC News, 12 May 2026

Morton got one last season as Dallas’ starter when Staubach suffered an injury in the preseason in 1972. —Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preseason

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