as in preliminary
coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows a medical assistant had done all of the prelim work before the physician even walked into the examining room

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prelim
Adjective
  • Dunn was charged with felony assault, released without detention, and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 4.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2025
  • That’s skipping over a June incident when a Starship rocket exploded while being loaded with methane and liquid oxygen propellant ahead of its launch — due, Musk later said, citing preliminary data, to problems in the payload bay.
    Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • To prepare for the frigid waters of Antarctica, Wigginton, a master scuba diver, plans to conduct some preparatory dives in Lake Huron at 60-90 feet, where water temperature is similar to the 25-foot goal in Antarctica.
    Lara Terpstra, Freep.com, 4 Aug. 2025
  • According to a Reuters report released Thursday, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB), the federal regulatory agency overseeing railroads, are already conducting preparatory work in anticipation of a possible two deals.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • Over its introductory weekend in theaters, the third Man of Steel reboot released this millennium sold $125 million in tickets in North America.
    Chris Lee, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025
  • In its history, over 2.5 million young people have taken a free introductory flight through Young Eagles.
    Cyril A. Reinicke, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Prelim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prelim. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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