A2 verb Formal #564 most common

preliminary

/prɪˈlɪm.ɪ.nər.i/

Something that happens at the beginning or before a more important event. It is used to describe initial steps taken to prepare for the main activity or final result.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The athletes are competing in the preliminary rounds today to see who makes the final.

The athletes are competing in the starting rounds today to see who makes the final.

2

The committee released a preliminary report before the full investigation was completed.

The committee released an initial report before the full investigation was completed.

3

I've done some preliminary research on where we should go for our holiday.

I've done some early research on where we should go for our holiday.

Word Family

Noun
preliminary
Adverb
preliminarily
Adjective
preliminary
Related
preliminaries
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Memory Tip

Think of 'Pre' (before) and 'Limit' (threshold). It is the step you take before you cross the threshold into the main event.

Quick Quiz

The doctors gave a ________ diagnosis, but they need more tests to be sure.

Correct!

The correct answer is: preliminary

Examples

1

The athletes are competing in the preliminary rounds today to see who makes the final.

everyday

The athletes are competing in the starting rounds today to see who makes the final.

2

The committee released a preliminary report before the full investigation was completed.

formal

The committee released an initial report before the full investigation was completed.

3

I've done some preliminary research on where we should go for our holiday.

informal

I've done some early research on where we should go for our holiday.

4

Preliminary data suggest that the new drug is effective against the virus.

academic

Early data suggest that the new drug is effective against the virus.

5

We had a preliminary meeting to discuss the basic terms of the contract.

business

We had a preparatory meeting to discuss the basic terms of the contract.

Word Family

Noun
preliminary
Adverb
preliminarily
Adjective
preliminary
Related
preliminaries

Common Collocations

preliminary results initial results
preliminary discussion starting discussion
preliminary stage early stage
preliminary report first report
preliminary hearing legal preparation hearing

Common Phrases

preliminary round

the first stage of a competition

without further preliminaries

starting the main thing immediately

preliminary steps

the first actions in a process

Often Confused With

preliminary vs primary

Primary means most important or main, while preliminary means coming first as a preparation.

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Usage Notes

Use 'preliminary' to sound more professional when describing the first stages of a project or investigation. It is most commonly used as an adjective before a noun.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often try to use 'preliminary' as a verb. It is an adjective (preliminary report) or a noun (the preliminaries), but never an action (you cannot 'preliminary' something).

💡

Memory Tip

Think of 'Pre' (before) and 'Limit' (threshold). It is the step you take before you cross the threshold into the main event.

📖

Word Origin

From Latin 'prae-' (before) and 'limen' (threshold/doorway).

Grammar Patterns

Used as an adjective before a noun Plural noun form is 'preliminaries' Cannot be used as a verb
🌍

Cultural Context

In international sports like the Olympics, the 'preliminaries' are the qualifying heats that fans watch before the medal rounds.

Quick Quiz

The doctors gave a ________ diagnosis, but they need more tests to be sure.

Correct!

The correct answer is: preliminary

Related Words

to

A1

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.

and

A1

A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.

a

A1

A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.

that

A1

This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.

I

A1

The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.

for

A1

Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.

not

A1

A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.

with

A1

A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.

he

A1

A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.

you

A1

Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.

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