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

Atlantic 10 opener delivers drama Davidson (8-5) and Duquesne (9-5) entered conference play picked 11th and ninth, respectively, in the preseason A-10 poll. —Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 31 Dec. 2025

The slide came despite heightened preseason optimism sparked by the arrival of transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 30 Dec. 2025

In three preseason games, Milton threw for 397 yards and two touchdowns along with two interceptions. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Dec. 2025

The score represented a first for both rookies yet should come as no surprise considering the chemistry that had existed since the preseason. —Miami Herald, 29 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preseason

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