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
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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
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Recent Examples of preliminary
Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 3 June 2025
President Donald Trump initially imposed triple-digit levies on China in April, and scaled it back a month later to 30% after a preliminary agreement to continue talks towards a bigger trade deal was secured.
—Joseph Zeballos-Roig, Quartz, 3 June 2025
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 6 Mar. 2025
Her six-game outburst in the state preliminaries screamed of consistency, with no score lower than 217 and none higher than 269.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preliminary
Adjective
According to a motion for a preliminary injunction filed on Tuesday by Somerville and Chelsea, the targeting of cities and towns over their local policies is both unconstitutional and at odds with the advice of local law enforcement.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 3 June 2025
President Donald Trump initially imposed triple-digit levies on China in April, and scaled it back a month later to 30% after a preliminary agreement to continue talks towards a bigger trade deal was secured.
—Joseph Zeballos-Roig, Quartz, 3 June 2025
Noun
While the diving kicked off Thursday, the swimming gets underway with preliminaries on Friday, with the finals for both swimming and diving slated for Saturday.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 6 Mar. 2025
Her six-game outburst in the state preliminaries screamed of consistency, with no score lower than 217 and none higher than 269.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preliminary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preliminary
Adjective
-
The Navy has replicated the Army's preparatory course and implemented its own training system for potential recruits who initially fall short.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
3 June 2025
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Pade paints directly onto the canvas without a preparatory drawing, often smudging areas of the canvas with a cloth at the end of a day in her Paris studio.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Noun
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That served as a prelude to Tim Anderson smashing his own two-run shot off Zack Britton in the bottom of the inning to send the White Sox home winners.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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And treat every phase not as prelude to the final answer but as a source of directional learning.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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The week of June 23, the full introductory collection will be available on both Nrgy’s and Revo’s websites, then roll out to select brick-and-mortar retailers.—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
9 June 2025
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After his introductory remarks, Valenzuela welcomed record producer, DJ, filmmaker, and rapper Steven Ellison, who creates under the name Flying Lotus.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preliminary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preliminary. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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