preliminary

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/prɪˈlɪmɪnəri/
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Something early and preparatory, either as an adjective for a first or provisional stage or as a noun for a step before the main event.
Practice using this word in conversation

Examples

  • Each preliminary narrowed the field of competitors.
  • She won her preliminary and advanced to the semifinal.
  • After the preliminaries, the committee moved to the main vote.
  • The agenda lists several preliminaries before the debate.
  • Preliminary talks began before the formal negotiations.

Similar words

introductory
initial
provisional
preparatory
prefatory
opening round
first step
heat
prelim
opening

Meanings

Coming before the main stage

adjective
processes
neutral
Coming before the main, final, or more detailed stage, often to prepare for it or give an early provisional view.

Usage

Use preliminary before nouns such as report, findings, talks, hearing, or plan when the stage is early and not final.

Examples

  • The preliminary report was released yesterday.
  • Our preliminary findings suggest a need for further study.
  • The judge scheduled a preliminary hearing for next Monday.
  • The committee drafted a preliminary plan for the project.
  • Preliminary talks began before the formal negotiations.
  • A preliminary estimate put the cost at two million pounds.

Common mistakes

The word is treated as final, or the adverb preliminarily is used where the adjective preliminary is needed.
IncorrectCorrect
The preliminary results are final. The preliminary results are provisional.
She gave a preliminary of the report. She gave a preliminary overview of the report.
We reached the preliminary decision after all appeals. We reached the final decision after all appeals.
The meeting began with preliminarily remarks. The meeting began with preliminary remarks.

Similar words

initial
introductory
preparatory
provisional
prefatory
opening
early

Early step or round

noun
events
neutral
A first action, event, or round that prepares for, qualifies for, or leads into the main event.

Usage

Use preliminary as a noun for an early round, match, or preparatory step, and use preliminaries for the set of things done before the main work.

Examples

  • She won her preliminary and advanced to the semifinal.
  • The boxing preliminary starts before the title fight.
  • After the preliminaries, the committee moved to the main vote.
  • The agenda lists several preliminaries before the debate.
  • Each preliminary narrowed the field of competitors.
  • The paperwork was only a preliminary to the real negotiations.

Common mistakes

The noun is made to mean the final stage, or plural preliminaries is given singular agreement.
IncorrectCorrect
The preliminaries is finished. The preliminaries are finished.
She won the preliminary that decided the champion. She won the final that decided the champion.
The preliminary happened after the main event. The preliminary happened before the main event.
He skipped the preliminaries before starting the application. He completed the preliminaries before starting the application.

Similar words

prelude
preparation
qualifier
heat
opening round
first step
prelim

Usage

Use preliminary for what comes before the main or final stage, and make the context clear when it is a noun because the adjective is more common.

Common mistakes

Preliminary is treated as final in errors like preliminary results are final, and preliminaries often gets the wrong singular verb.

Etymology

From Latin praeliminaris, "before the threshold", from prae, "before", and limen, "threshold".

FAQ

What does preliminary mean?

Preliminary means coming before the main, final, or more detailed stage, often as preparation or an early view.

Can preliminary be a noun?

Yes. A preliminary can be an early step, round, or event before the main one.

What are preliminary results?

Preliminary results are early results that may change after fuller checking, counting, or analysis.

What is a preliminary hearing?

A preliminary hearing is an early court hearing before a full trial or later proceeding.

What is the plural of preliminary?

The noun plural is preliminaries, as in the preliminaries are complete.

What is the opposite of preliminary?

Common opposites of preliminary include final, definitive, and concluding.

Where does preliminary come from?

Preliminary comes from Latin roots meaning before the threshold.

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