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
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
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
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Ultimately, Duran’s move to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, hastened by his red card, was further down the line than Arsenal’s overtures for Watkins (Arsenal offered £40million in six instalments).—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2026
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His overtures were met with pushback from Greenlandic, Danish and European leaders, with multiple European countries sending troops to the semiautonomous Danish territory last week.—
Max Rego,
The Hill,
19 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preliminaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preliminaries. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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