Thesaurus results for COUNTDOWN

countdown

noun

Definition of countdown

as in preliminary

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of countdown Efford said Georgia Tech has a countdown clock to its annual rivalry game with the Bulldogs. — Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 30 July 2026 Flushed and flailing during Schauf’s final countdown, her gum-chewing getting a little more exaggerated with each second, Cooper quipped that her handiwork might be better sealed under a closed casket. — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026 After hitting send on your RSVP, the countdown is on to celebrate the happy couple on their big day. — Ariana Yaptangco, InStyle, 28 July 2026 Names of her grantee organizations are shown on screens in the center of the arena during the pre-show countdown. — ABC News, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for countdown

Recent Examples of Synonyms for countdown

Noun

But all of that was just the preliminaries for Grady Emerson.

— John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 July 2026
The meet continues Thursday, a day consisting largely of women’s preliminaries, followed by men’s finals Friday and women’s finals Saturday.

— Mike Wilson, New York Times, 11 June 2026

Definition of preliminary

Noun

Flanagan supporters are suspicious of Craig To Flanagan and her supporters, Craig’s vote for the immigration bill was not a pragmatic overture to swing voters but a betrayal.

— Jonathan J. Cooper, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026
To Flanagan and her supporters, Craig's vote for the immigration bill was not a pragmatic overture to swing voters but a betrayal.

— CBS News, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of overture

Noun

Marvel services fans with a bevy of delightful Easter eggs, but the film works better as an extended prelude to Endgame than as its own story.

— EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
As much as Baker tried to keep his focus on Kent, however, many kept telling him that this visit was a prelude to his induction next summer.

— Jose de Jesus Ortiz, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026

Definition of prelude

Browse Nearby Words

countable

countdown

countdowns

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Countdown.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/countdown. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of countdown

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on countdown

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gnomic

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

'Gaslighting,' 'Woke,' 'Democracy,' and Other Top Lookups

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes