as in preludes
a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event
a meeting to discuss seating arrangements that was merely a preliminary to the formal negotiating sessions
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Recent Examples of preliminaries
The hockey playoffs weren’t affected by the storm and are expected to start on March 2 with Division II preliminaries.
—
Jacob Rousseau, The Providence Journal, 26 Feb. 2026
Switzerland crushed Germany in the men’s curling preliminaries, keeping a consistent lead before ending the game with a score of 8-4.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
Lower‑demand preliminaries will likely be the most affordable, while high‑profile events—gymnastics finals, swimming finals, track and field, and the opening ceremony—will sit at the top end of the pricing spectrum.
—Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Jan. 2026
The contestant from Jamaica, Gabrielle Henry, took a scary tumble during the evening gown round at Wednesday’s preliminaries and was carried away in a stretcher, according to social media videos which circulated of her fall.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
Jacob Rousseau, The Providence Journal, 26 Feb. 2026
Switzerland crushed Germany in the men’s curling preliminaries, keeping a consistent lead before ending the game with a score of 8-4.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
Lower‑demand preliminaries will likely be the most affordable, while high‑profile events—gymnastics finals, swimming finals, track and field, and the opening ceremony—will sit at the top end of the pricing spectrum.
—Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Jan. 2026
The contestant from Jamaica, Gabrielle Henry, took a scary tumble during the evening gown round at Wednesday’s preliminaries and was carried away in a stretcher, according to social media videos which circulated of her fall.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preliminaries
overtures
Noun
-
The three also had divergent views on taxpayer assistance on efforts to retain the Chicago Bears in Illinois amid overtures from Indiana.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
-
But, until today, its overtures have been rebuffed outright by WBD.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preliminaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preliminaries. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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