Preliminary — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

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

Meaning & Definition of Preliminary

Preliminary (adjective)

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

Preliminary (noun)

  1. something that precedes or is introductory or preparatory
  2. a preliminary heat or trial (as of a race)
  3. a minor match preceding the main event (as of a boxing card)

Preliminary (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  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

Preliminary (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a performance, activity, or event that precedes and sets the stage for the main event

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

    similar: curtain-raiser, overture, preamble, prelude, prologue, warm-up
    related: countdown, run-up (chiefly British), lead-in, kickoff, start

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Preliminary

The most common words with a similar meaning to Preliminary:

beginning, introductory, precursory, prefatory, prelim, prelusive, preparative, preparatory, primary, curtain-raiser, overture, preamble, prelude, prologue, warm-up

Related Words for Preliminary

introducing, prefacing, preparing, readying, premonitory, warning, basic, elementary, fundamental, ahead, early, former, preceding, previous, prior, countdown, run-up, lead-in, kickoff, start

Near Antonyms of Preliminary

after, behind, following, subsequent

Word Forms of Preliminary

Inflections: preliminaries

Derived words: preliminarily (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Preliminary

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

First known use: 1657

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Preliminary

Frequently Asked Questions about Preliminary

What does "Preliminary" mean?

"Preliminary" means coming before and usually forming a necessary prelude to something else. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: coming before and usually forming a necessary prelude to something else. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Preliminary"?

Other words for "Preliminary" include beginning, introductory, precursory, prefatory, prelim, prelusive, preparative and preparatory. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Preliminary" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Preliminary"?

There are 35 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Preliminary". Common alternatives include beginning, introductory, precursory, prefatory, prelim, prelusive, preparative, preparatory, primary and curtain-raiser.

How do you use "Preliminary" in a sentence?

Examples of "Preliminary" in a sentence: "we need to do some preliminary research in order to properly focus the experiment"; "a meeting to discuss seating arrangements that was merely a preliminary to the formal negotiating sessions".

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

"Preliminary" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Preliminary" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Preliminary" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Preliminary"?

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

What is the origin of the word "Preliminary"?

"Preliminary" comes from French préliminaires, plural, from Medieval Latin praeliminaris, adjective, preliminary, from Latin prae- pre- + limin-, limen threshold. First known use: 1657.