preseason

noun

pre·​sea·​son ˌprē-ˈsē-zᵊn 

ˈprē-ˌsē-zᵊn

plural preseasons

: a period of time immediately preceding a season

tourists who visit during the preseason

especially : a training period preceding a sport's regular season in which teams compete in unofficial games

The preseason starts in two weeks.

performed well in (the) preseason

Quarterback John Friesz was lost for the year in the preseason to knee surgery.

—Paul Zimmerman

Dennis Rodman's mysterious boycott finally ended on Monday when he arrived for practice for the first time since the start of preseason.

—Jack McCallum

preseason adjective

preseason football

preseason training

the preseason opener/finale

preseason rankings/polls

the preseason favorite

Examples of preseason in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The talk surrounding the Cleveland Browns usually revolves around their quarterback situation and the upcoming competition in training camp and preseason action. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025

Clark was kept out of the preseason with left quad tightness, but the two injuries are not related, according to the Indianapolis Star. —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 27 May 2025

Inter Miami also played the most taxing preseason schedule with five games in Las Vegas, Peru, Panama, Honduras and Tampa. —Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 27 May 2025

Clark had been battling a left leg injury this spring and sat out a preseason contest. —David K. Li, NBC news, 27 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preseason

• milesian
• partizan
• postseason
• unreason
• reason
• season
• seizin
• treason