preliminary
Americanadjective
noun
-
preliminaries
plural
-
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.
-
Printing. preliminaries, front matter.
adjective
noun
-
a preliminary event or occurrence
-
an eliminating contest held before the main competition
Synonym Usage
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 Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of preliminary
First recorded in 1650–60; from French prélimin(aire) and New Latin praelīmināris ( see pre-, liminal) + -ary
Explanation
Preliminary means something that comes before something else. If you want to run in the race, you have to place in the top third of the preliminary round. It can also mean "early" — the preliminary results are in, and you've won! Preliminary is often used euphemistically, as in, "There are a few preliminaries we'll need to take care of before you start your new job. First, sign over all your worldly goods to the company, then write a letter to your family explaining that you will never see them again. All set?"
Vocabulary lists containing preliminary
Vocabulary of the Summer Olympics
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Mockingbird
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"We know this in animals, and our preliminary research is showing it in humans," he says.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
Other U.S. economic data due Friday include the preliminary University of Michigan Consumer Survey for September, released at 10:00 a.m.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 11, 2026
Austal yesterday said it held a preliminary discussion with Wildcat, but hasn’t received a proposal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
The lawsuit’s motive matches allegations that prosecutors have made in court filings and at Burke’s preliminary hearing in July.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
The preliminary report could find no cause for this seemingly inex-plicable accident.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
Dispense with all preliminaries and give the Oscar to Ms. Coon right now.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
Nine university students entered the preliminaries this year, wrestling bulls weighing hundreds of kilograms and sporting hard, stubby horns.
From Barron's ● Jun. 28, 2026
It was so hot on Saturday that a more than three-hour heat delay was imposed in the middle of the Southern Section Division 3 track and field preliminaries at Yorba Linda.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2025
As the preliminaries drew to a close, Mike’s friends gradually started coming upstairs to join him.
From Slate ● Oct. 31, 2024
In the 1930s rowing was the second most popular Olympic event—after track and field— and in the preliminaries Germany had shown every sign of being highly competitive, if not dominant, in this year’s medal round.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
