Preliminarily — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb /pri-ˈli-mə-ˌner-ē/ pre·lim·i·nary

Meaning & Definition of Preliminarily

Preliminarily (adjective)

  1. coming before and usually forming a necessary prelude to something else

Preliminarily (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. so as to precede something in order of time

    "the sick children were examined preliminarily by the nurse to determine if they had a rash"

    similar: afore (chiefly dialect), ahead, already, antecedently, anteriorly, before, beforehand, earlier, formerly, previously, in advance
    related: a priori, early, prematurely, first, first off, now, before long, erelong (archaic), presently, shortly, soon
    opposite: after, afterward, later
    near: behind, by and by, next, subsequently

Related Entry: Preliminary (adjective)

Preliminary is a different word from Preliminarily. The synonyms below are for preliminary, not for preliminarily.

  1. coming before the main part or item usually to introduce or prepare for what follows

    "we need to do some preliminary research in order to properly focus the experiment"

    similar: beginning, introductory, precursory, prefatory, prelim, prelusive, preparative, preparatory, primary
    related: introducing, prefacing, preparing, readying, premonitory, warning, basic, elementary, fundamental, ahead, early, former, preceding, previous, prior
    near: after, behind, following, subsequent

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Preliminarily

The most common words with a similar meaning to Preliminarily:

Chiefly dialect: afore
ahead, already, antecedently, anteriorly, before, beforehand, earlier, formerly, previously, in advance

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Preliminarily

Words with the opposite meaning of Preliminarily:

after, afterward, later

Related Words for Preliminarily

a priori, early, prematurely, first, first off, now, before long, erelong, presently, shortly, soon

Near Antonyms of Preliminarily

behind, by and by, next, subsequently

Word Forms of Preliminarily

Derived words: preliminarily (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Preliminarily

First known use: 1657

Frequently Asked Questions about Preliminarily

What does "Preliminarily" mean?

"Preliminarily" means coming before and usually forming a necessary prelude to something else. As an an adjective and an adverb, it is defined as: coming before and usually forming a necessary prelude to something else.

What is another word for "Preliminarily"?

Other words for "Preliminarily" include afore, ahead, already, antecedently, anteriorly, before, beforehand and earlier. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Preliminarily" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Preliminarily"?

There are 22 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Preliminarily". Common alternatives include afore, ahead, already, antecedently, anteriorly, before, beforehand, earlier, formerly and previously.

What is the opposite of "Preliminarily"?

Antonyms of "Preliminarily" include after, afterward and later. Near antonyms include behind, by and by, next and subsequently.

How do you use "Preliminarily" in a sentence?

Examples of "Preliminarily" in a sentence: "the sick children were examined preliminarily by the nurse to determine if they had a rash".

Is "Preliminarily" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Preliminarily" can be used as an adjective and an adverb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Preliminarily"?

"Preliminarily" is pronounced /pri-ˈli-mə-ˌner-ē/ and divided into syllables as pre·lim·i·nary.

What is the origin of the word "Preliminarily"?

First known use: 1657.