adj · noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:prĭlĭmʹĭnəri
Received-Pronunciation:/pɹɪˈlɪmɪn(ə)ɹi/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:prĭlĭmʹĭnĕri
General-American:/pɹɪˈlɪmɪnɛɹi/
General-American:/pɹiˈlɪmɪnɛɹi/
CMU ARPABET:P R IH0 L IH1 M AH0 N EH2 R IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:P R IY0 L IH1 M AH0 N EH2 R IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
In preparation for the main matter; initial, introductory, preparatory.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
These are just the preliminary results.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: initial, introductory, preparatory
Antonyms: definitive, final
2
noun
Meaning 2
A preparation for a main matter; an introduction.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Any of a series of sports events that determine the finalists.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A relatively minor contest that precedes a major one, especially in boxing.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important; designed to orient or acquaint with a situation before proceeding
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a preliminary investigation
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
training is a necessary preliminary to employment
drinks were the overture to dinner
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: overture, prelude
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: origin, origination, inception
7
noun
Meaning 7
a minor match preceding the main event
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Borrowed from New Latin praelīmināris, formed from prae- (“before”) + līmen (“threshold”) + -āris (adjectival suffix); compare Latin līmināris (“of or belonging to a threshold”). Compare French préliminaire.
Across languages
Translations
50 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Azerbaijani:
ilkin
— in preparation for the main matter
Azerbaijani:
ibtidai
— in preparation for the main matter
Azerbaijani:
ilk
— in preparation for the main matter
Bulgarian:
предварителен
(predvaritelen)
— in preparation for the main matter
Bulgarian:
подготвителен
(podgotvitelen)
— in preparation for the main matter
Catalan:
preliminar
— in preparation for the main matter
Chinese Mandarin:
初步
(chūbù)
— in preparation for the main matter
Chinese Mandarin:
預備 /预备
(yùbèi)
— in preparation for the main matter
Czech:
předběžný
— in preparation for the main matter
Dutch:
voorbereidend
— in preparation for the main matter
Finnish:
alustava
— in preparation for the main matter
Finnish:
preliminaarinen
— in preparation for the main matter
Finnish:
esi-
— in preparation for the main matter
French:
préliminaire
— in preparation for the main matter
Galician:
preliminar
— in preparation for the main matter
Georgian:
წინასწარი
(c̣inasc̣ari)
— in preparation for the main matter
German:
vorläufig
— in preparation for the main matter
German:
vorbereitend
— in preparation for the main matter
Hungarian:
előzetes
— in preparation for the main matter
Irish:
réamh-
— in preparation for the main matter
Italian:
preliminare
— in preparation for the main matter
Japanese:
予備的
(yobiteki)
— in preparation for the main matter
Korean:
예비의
(yebiui)
— in preparation for the main matter
Lithuanian:
preliminarus
— in preparation for the main matter
Norwegian Bokmål:
preliminær
— in preparation for the main matter
Norwegian Bokmål:
foreløpig
— in preparation for the main matter
Norwegian Nynorsk:
preliminær
— in preparation for the main matter
Norwegian Nynorsk:
foreløpig
— in preparation for the main matter
Occitan:
preliminar
— in preparation for the main matter
Polish:
wstępny
— in preparation for the main matter
Portuguese:
preliminar
— in preparation for the main matter
Romanian:
introductiv
— in preparation for the main matter
Romanian:
preliminar
— in preparation for the main matter
Romanian:
pregătitor
— in preparation for the main matter
Russian:
предвари́тельный
(predvarítelʹnyj)
— in preparation for the main matter
Russian:
подготови́тельный
(podgotovítelʹnyj)
— in preparation for the main matter
Spanish:
preliminar
— in preparation for the main matter
Swedish:
preliminär
— in preparation for the main matter
Turkish:
geçici
— in preparation for the main matter
Turkish:
ilk
— in preparation for the main matter
Turkish:
ön
— in preparation for the main matter
Turkish:
öncü
— in preparation for the main matter
Welsh:
rhagarweiniol
— in preparation for the main matter
Finnish:
johdatus
— introduction
Finnish:
johdanto
— introduction
Finnish:
karsinta
— any of a series of sports
Finnish:
karsintaottelu
— any of a series of sports
Irish:
réamhbhabhta
— any of a series of sports
Japanese:
予選
(yosen)
— any of a series of sports
Finnish:
lämmittelyottelu
— minor contest before major one
