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

Perez played in the preseason and was signed to the practice squad but was cut in September and began a cycle that continues to this day. —Chris Vannini, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025

There’s more spots to fill, but right now the Horned Frogs have built a roster that should start the season ranked in the preseason. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2025

Baylor also underperformed based on its preseason ranking (No. 8), while Arizona stumbled early and recovered late. —Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025

This technology was in use during select preseason NFL games last summer. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preseason

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