English adjective: preliminary | |||
1. | preliminary denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important; designed to orient or acquaint with a situation before proceeding | ||
Samples | A preliminary investigation. | ||
Similar | explorative, exploratory | ||
Antonyms | nonexplorative, nonexploratory, unexplorative, unexploratory | ||
English noun: preliminary | |||
1. | preliminary (event) a minor match preceding the main event | ||
Synonyms | prelim | ||
Broader (hypernym) | athletic competition, athletic contest, athletics | ||
2. | preliminary (event) something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows | ||
Samples | Training is a necessary preliminary to employment. Drinks were the overture to dinner. | ||
Synonyms | overture, prelude | ||
Broader (hypernym) | inception, origin, origination | ||