preliminary

[pri-lim-uh-ner-ee]

See more synonyms for preliminary on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

noun, plural pre·lim·i·nar·ies.

something preliminary, as an introductory or preparatory step, measure, contest, etc.: He passed the preliminary and went on to the finals.
a boxing match or other athletic contest that takes place before the main event on the program: A preliminary was fought at 8:00.
a preliminary examination, as of a candidate for an academic degree.
preliminaries, Printing. front matter.

Origin of preliminary

1650–60; < French prélimin(aire) and New Latin praelīmin(āris) (see pre-, liminal) + -ary

Related formspre·lim·i·nar·i·ly, adverb

Synonyms for preliminary

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1. prefatory. 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.

Antonyms for preliminary

1. concluding.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for preliminary

prior, preparatory, exploratory, opening, primary, trial, fundamental, basic, test, pilot, first, readying, foundation, introduction, preparation, start, initiation, groundwork, preface, preamble

Examples from the Web for preliminary

Contemporary Examples of preliminary

I testified merely eight feet from this monster at a preliminary hearing.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything
Liz Seccuro
December 16, 2014
Preliminary results performed by Italian authorities “have not detected any manufacturing defect,” she added.
Did This Flu Vaccine Kill 13?
Barbie Latza Nadeau
December 2, 2014
These preliminary results give us hope that the project will succeed in the coming years.
The Secret to Tracking Ebola, MERS, and Flu? Sewers
Wudan Yan
November 29, 2014
He also is the editor of the journal, which seems to publish a lot of interesting if preliminary work.
All These AIDS ‘Cures’ Are a Fantasy—One That Can Cause Real Harm
Kent Sepkowitz
November 6, 2014
Data from 107 galaxies out of the preliminary sample is freely available to the astronomical community for study.
SAMI Is Like Google Earth for the Universe
Matthew R. Francis
July 27, 2014

Historical Examples of preliminary

The time expended in these preliminary lessons will be well spent.
Flying Machines
W.J. Jackman and Thos. H. Russell
To return from this preliminary digression to the examinations.
The Bay State Monthly, Vol. 1, Issue 1.
Various
As a preliminary to acquiring it is he to be shut out from the society of his fellows?
Shelley, Godwin and Their Circle
H. N. Brailsford
The first of these preliminary processes is that which is done by the sliver-lapper.
The Fabric of Civilization
Anonymous
The same end may be attained without any preliminary process.
The Captain of the Pole-Star and Other Tales
Arthur Conan Doyle

British Dictionary definitions for preliminary

preliminary

adjective

(usually prenominal) occurring before or in preparation; introductory

noun plural -naries

a preliminary event or occurrence
an eliminating contest held before the main competition

Derived Formspreliminarily, adverb

Word Origin for preliminary

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

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

Word Origin and History for preliminary

adj.

1660s, from French préliminaire and directly from Medieval Latin praeliminaris, from Latin prae- "before" (see pre-) + limen (genitive liminis) "threshold" (see limit (n.)). A word that arose in reference to negotiations to end the Thirty Years' War. Earliest attested form in English is preliminaries (n.), 1650s.