preseason

noun

pre·​sea·​son ˌprē-ˈsē-zᵊn How to pronounce preseason (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Kalkbrenner’s summer league performance paired with his preseason outings and holding his own in team practices behind closed doors likely changed all that. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2025 Currently sidelined with a back injury, the guard did not play in the preseason and is expected to make his debut on the team’s G League affiliate, the Noblesville Boom, WTHR reported. Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025 Spoelstra has since been selected in the league’s annual preseason survey of general managers as the best head coach in the NBA for each of the last six years and was recently named the new head coach of the Team USA men’s national team through 2028. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025 Two-way guard Chris Manon fully participated in practice on Sunday after suffering a Grade 2 ankle sprain during camp that sidelined him for preseason play. Khobi Price, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for preseason

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of preseason was in 1914

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preseason.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preseason. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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