as in preparatory
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in prelude
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of preliminary
CBS News, 4 June 2026
All numbers here are preliminary.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
Jacob Rousseau, The Providence Journal, 26 Feb. 2026
Switzerland crushed Germany in the men’s curling preliminaries, keeping a consistent lead before ending the game with a score of 8-4.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preliminary
Adjective
During a meeting Wednesday, the school's Board of Trustees approved a preliminary agreement with all but one of the 280 survivors with claims still involved in pending litigation.
—CBS News, 4 June 2026
All numbers here are preliminary.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
Noun
The hockey playoffs weren’t affected by the storm and are expected to start on March 2 with Division II preliminaries.
—Jacob Rousseau, The Providence Journal, 26 Feb. 2026
Switzerland crushed Germany in the men’s curling preliminaries, keeping a consistent lead before ending the game with a score of 8-4.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preliminary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preliminary
Adjective
-
When interview invitations arrive, candidates have already done the reflective and preparatory work that helps make those conversations productive instead of reactive.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
The artist painted the mural singlehandedly, by hand, says the complaint, over many weeks, without preparatory sketches.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
That actually proved the prelude to an even more extraordinary attack on the board in his post-match press conference just 24 hours later, following a 2-1 defeat by Sunderland.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
Look what happened last night, that was a prelude to the midterms.—
Rachel Scott,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
The California Democrat was so unfamiliar to the incoming president that Biden badly mispronounced his name at an introductory news conference.—
Dan Diamond,
Washington Post,
31 May 2026
-
Locke’s children’s book is an introductory lesson about gender-inclusive pronouns.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preliminary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preliminary. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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