preliminary

1 of 2

adjective

pre·​lim·​i·​nary pri-ˈli-mə-ˌner-ē 

: coming before and usually forming a necessary prelude to something else

preliminary studies

preliminary results

preliminarily

pri-ˌli-mə-ˈner-ə-lē 

adverb

preliminary

2 of 2

noun

plural preliminaries

: something that precedes or is introductory or preparatory: such as

a

: a preliminary heat or trial (as of a race)

b

: a minor match preceding the main event (as of a boxing card)

c

: a preliminary scholastic examination

d

preliminaries plural, British : front matter

Synonyms

Adjective

• beginning
• introductory
• precursory
• prefatory
• prelim
• prelusive
• preparative
• preparatory
• primary

Noun

• curtain-raiser
• overture
• preamble
• prelude
• prologue
• prolog
• warm-up

Examples of preliminary in a Sentence

Adjective

Preliminary findings show that the drug could help patients with skin cancer.

The team was eliminated in the preliminary round of the tournament.

research that is preliminary to the study

Noun

a meeting to discuss seating arrangements that was merely a preliminary to the formal negotiating sessions

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In an ad hoc statement on April 9, the company recognized that the preliminary first-quarter result deviated significantly from analyst expectations of around 4 billion euros. —Sam Meredith, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025

Earlier this month, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction to block DOGE from accessing sensitive personal information held by the SSA. —Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025

Noun

Early preliminaries will air on ESPN+, Disney+, and UFC Fight Pass starting at 6 p.m. ET. —Jim Varsallone, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025

Late preliminaries available on ESPN+, ESPN, Disney+, and ESPN Deportes at 8 p.m. ET. —Jim Varsallone, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French préliminaires, plural, from Medieval Latin praeliminaris, adjective, preliminary, from Latin prae- pre- + limin-, limen threshold

First Known Use

Adjective

1657, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1656, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preliminary

• accretionary
• apothecary
• bicentenary
• certiorari
• concessionary
• concretionary
• confectionary
• confectionery
• constabulary
• contemporary
• deflationary
• depositary

Kids Definition

preliminary

1 of 2 noun

pre·​lim·​i·​nary pri-ˈlim-ə-ˌner-ē 

plural preliminaries

: something preliminary

preliminary

2 of 2 adjective

: coming before the main part or item : introductory

preliminarily

-ˌlim-ə-ˈner-ə-lē 

adverb

Legal Definition

preliminary

adjective

pre·​lim·​i·​nary

pri-ˈli-mə-ˌner-ē

: coming before and usually serving as a temporary or intermediate step to something

preliminary negotiations

a preliminary payment plan

preliminarily adverb

preliminary noun