Showing results for preliminaries. Search instead for preliminary+contest.

Definitions

preliminaries

NOUN

front matter

Synonyms

WEAK

explanatory matter introduction preface preliminary prelims

NOUN

ground floor

Synonyms

WEAK

beginnings first crack first stage head start very beginning

NOUN

groundwork

Synonyms

STRONGEST

preparation

STRONG

ABCs background base bedrock cornerstone footing foundation ground infrastructure origin root substratum understructure

WEAK

underpinning

NOUN

inaugural

Synonyms

STRONGEST

inauguration

STRONG

admission baptism beginning commencement debut enrollment entrance inception indoctrination induction installation investiture

WEAK

instatement

Antonyms

STRONG

completion conclusion end ending expulsion finish

NOUN

initiation

Synonyms

STRONGEST

baptism commencement inauguration inception induction

STRONG

admission beginning debut enrollment entrance inaugural indoctrination installation investiture

WEAK

instatement

Antonyms

STRONGEST

end ending finish

STRONG

conclusion

WEAK

close termination

NOUN

instatement

Synonyms

WEAK

admission baptism beginning commencement debut enrollment entrance inaugural inauguration inception indoctrination induction installation investiture

NOUN

introduction

Synonyms

STRONGEST

addition debut establishment inauguration influx initiation installation launch opening preface presentation

STRONG

admittance awakening baptism beginning commencement essentials exordium foreword hornbook inception induction ingress insertion institution interpolation intro lead lead-in overture preamble prelude primer prolegomenon prologue survey

WEAK

basic principles basic text first acquaintance first taste opening remarks pioneering proem

Antonyms

STRONGEST

close closing conclusion end ending finish

STRONG

completion epilogue

NOUN

investiture

Synonyms

STRONG

admission baptism beginning commencement debut enrollment entrance inaugural inauguration inception indoctrination induction installation

WEAK

instatement

Antonyms

STRONG

completion conclusion end ending expulsion finish

NOUN

lead-in

Synonyms

STRONGEST

foreword

STRONG

addition admittance awakening baptism beginning commencement debut essentials establishment exordium inauguration inception induction influx ingress initiation insertion installation institution interpolation intro launch lead opening overture preamble preface prelude presentation primer prolegomenon prologue survey

WEAK

basic principles basic text first acquaintance first taste opening remarks pioneering proem

Antonyms

STRONG

close closing completion conclusion end ending epilogue finish termination

NOUN

prolegomenon

Synonyms

STRONG

addition admittance awakening baptism beginning commencement debut essentials establishment exordium foreword inauguration inception induction influx ingress initiation insertion installation institution interpolation intro launch lead lead-in opening overture preamble preface prelude presentation primer prologue survey

WEAK

basic principles basic text first acquaintance first taste opening remarks pioneering proem

Antonyms

STRONG

close closing completion conclusion end ending epilogue finish termination

NOUN

training

Synonyms

STRONGEST

coaching discipline drill education exercise guidance instruction practice schooling teaching workout

STRONG

background basics buildup cultivation domestication foundation grounding groundwork indoctrination principles readying seasoning sharpening tuition tune-up tutelage upbringing warmup

WEAK

chalk talk

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ignorance neglect

STRONG

destruction

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Friars won the state 4x100 title in 40.27 last spring without their superstar from Compton and with him were two-hundredths off that in posting the fastest time in Friday’s preliminaries.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2026

Earlier, during the preliminaries, someone had led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance—first to the American flag, then to the state of Texas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

As the preliminaries drew to a close, Mike’s friends gradually started coming upstairs to join him.

From Slate • Oct. 31, 2024

After a successful debut at Tokyo 2020, the skateboarding got under way in Paris with Britons Sky Brown and Lola Tambling competing in the women's park preliminaries.

From BBC • Aug. 6, 2024

What he looked like was a middleweight who fought preliminaries in Atlantic City.

From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers

preliminaries

Example Sentences

Related Words