preliminary

[ pri-lim-uh-ner-ee ]
See synonyms for: preliminarypreliminaries on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. preceding and leading up to the main part, matter, or business; introductory; preparatory: preliminary examinations.

noun,plural pre·lim·i·nar·ies.
  1. something preliminary, as an introductory or preparatory step, measure, contest, etc.: He passed the preliminary and went on to the finals.

  2. a boxing match or other athletic contest that takes place before the main event on the program: A preliminary was fought at 8:00.

  1. a preliminary examination, as of a candidate for an academic degree.

  2. preliminaries, Printing. front matter.

Origin of preliminary

1
First recorded in 1650–60; from French prélimin(aire) and New Latin praelīmināris (see pre-, liminal) + -ary

synonym study For preliminary

1. Preliminary, introductory both refer to that which comes before the principal subject of consideration. That which is preliminary is in the nature of preparation or of clearing away details which would encumber the main subject or problem; it often deals with arrangements and the like, which have to do only incidentally with the principal subject: preliminary negotiations. That which is introductory leads with natural, logical, or close connection directly into the main subject of consideration: introductory steps.

Other words for preliminary

Opposites for preliminary

Other words from preliminary

  • pre·lim·i·nar·i·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use preliminary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for preliminary

preliminary

/ (prɪˈlɪmɪnərɪ) /


adjective
  1. (usually prenominal) occurring before or in preparation; introductory

nounplural -naries
  1. a preliminary event or occurrence

  2. an eliminating contest held before the main competition

Origin of preliminary

1
C17: from New Latin praelīmināris, from Latin prae before + līmen threshold

Derived forms of preliminary

  • preliminarily, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012