preliminary
/prɪˈlɪmɪn(ə)ri
/adjective
Preceding or done in preparation for something fuller or more important: a preliminary draft the discussions were seen as preliminary to the policy paper...
- There are several very important reasons for this preliminary arm action.
- The news comes as the inquiry prepares to hold two preliminary meetings in York next month to discuss the format and conduct of the hearings.
- The company has agreed to prepare preliminary proposals based on feedback received at the workshop and exhibition.
Synonyms
preparatory, introductory, initial, opening, prefatory, prior, preceding, lead-in, initiatory, precursory;
early, advance, exploratory, pilot, test, trial, experimental, explorative
rare precursive, prodromal, prodromic, preludial, prelusive, prelusory
qualifying, eliminating
noun (plural preliminaries)
1A preliminary action or event: the bombardment was resumed as a preliminary to an infantry attack...
- After the written preliminary, the six teams which qualified appeared on stage for the finals.
- He had no sooner set about the preliminaries - the getting of suitable marble for his work - than he began to quarrel with the men who were to hew it.
- This long march requires many small steps and wide-ranging preliminaries in confidence rebuilding.
Synonyms
prelude, preparation, preliminary/preparatory measure, preliminary action, overture, groundwork, first round
1.1 (preliminaries) Business or talk, especially of a formulaic or polite nature, taking place before an action or event: she began speaking, without preliminaries...
- The preliminaries were polite, but from the outset it was clear that both men were in Braehead to put on a show.
- To return to your Honour the Chief Justice, the idea is that these preliminaries to business will be completed.
- When two minds are focused on a problem, and look at the problem with similar prejudices of what is correct and what is not, conversations need no preliminaries.
Synonyms
introduction, preamble, opening, opening/prefatory remarks, formalities
1.2A preliminary round in a sporting competition.Mbazima and Mwansa qualified to the finals after emerging first in a round-robin format during preliminaries of the three day tournament....
- He was signed by Efes Istanbul in Turkey and had a terrific showing in leading underdog Latvia out of the preliminaries of the European Championships.
- The tournament saw some 32 teams competing in the preliminaries.
1.3 (preliminaries) The prelims of a text.
Phrases
preliminary to
Derivatives
preliminarily
- According to the preliminarily announced criteria, the proposed cash contribution will be most important as it brings a maximum of 80 points.
- The Inspector said that police investigators have preliminarily concluded that the robbery was perpetrated by professionals.
- The City Council preliminarily approved the agreement Wednesday and will take a final vote Monday.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from modern Latin praeliminaris or French préliminaire, from Latin prae 'before' + limen, limin- 'threshold'.