preliminary
gb/pɹɪlˈɪmənˌɛɹi/ us/pɹɪlˈɪmənˌɛɹi/
B2
Αγγλικά
~ 5100
Σημασίες
0 σημασίες
adjective
B2
property
1
happening before the main event
Happening or done first, before the main thing, usually to prepare for it.
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
[preliminary] [noun]
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners sometimes confuse "preliminary" with "primary" or "primitive". "Preliminary" means something that comes before the main thing, usually as preparation. "Primary" means main or most important, and "primitive" means very simple or from an early time in history. Also, many learners wrongly use an adverb form *"preliminarily"* in everyday speech; in most cases, the adjective "preliminary" before a noun (e.g. "preliminary plan") is more natural.
Συνώνυμα
initial (Emphasizes the very first stage; slightly more neutral and common in both formal and informal speech.)
|
preparatory (More formal and technical; focuses strongly on preparing for something else.)
Αντώνυμα
final (Describes the last or conclusive stage, the opposite of an early or preparatory stage.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
preliminary results
|preliminary report
|preliminary investigation
|preliminary talks
|preliminary hearing
|preliminary round
Θέματα
work
|education
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Παραδείγματα
- The committee released a preliminary report on the causes of the accident.
- These are only preliminary results, so the numbers may change.
- The two sides held preliminary talks before starting formal negotiations.
- We did some preliminary research to see if the project was feasible.
- The team easily won their preliminary round match.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- We had a preliminary meeting before the main conference.
- This is only a preliminary test, not the real exam.
- The police started a preliminary investigation after the call.
- She showed us some preliminary results from the study.
- They had preliminary talks about a new contract.
Ουσιαστικό
C1
event
2
preparatory step before the main part
Something that happens before the main event or action to prepare for it.
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
a preliminary to [something]
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners sometimes use "preliminary" only as an adjective and do not realize it can also be a noun (often plural: "the preliminaries"). Remember that "preliminaries" are the early steps or small actions before the main thing.
Συνώνυμα
preparation (Very close in meaning, but more general; does not always suggest a distinct stage or event.)
|
introduction (Stresses the beginning or opening part, especially in communication or events, rather than practical steps.)
Αντώνυμα
main event (Refers to the central or most important part, which comes after the preliminaries.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
go through the preliminaries
|the preliminaries to [negotiations]
|as a preliminary
|after the usual preliminaries
|social preliminaries
Θέματα
work
|social
|procedures
|core_vocabulary
Παραδείγματα
- After the usual preliminaries, the meeting moved on to the main agenda.
- The interviews were just a preliminary to the final selection process.
- We skipped the social preliminaries and started talking business immediately.
- As a preliminary, let me explain how the system works.
- The signing of the letter of intent was an important preliminary to the merger.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- After some short preliminaries, the class began.
- The test is only a preliminary to the real exam.
- We did many preliminaries before starting the project.
- As a preliminary, the teacher explained the rules.
- They quickly finished the preliminaries and started work.
Ουσιαστικό
C1
event
3
qualifying round in competition
A first game, race, or match that decides who can go on to the main part of a competition.
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
win/lose a preliminary
Συχνό λάθος:
Learners may think "preliminary" here is just an adjective, but in sports it is often used as a noun ("in the preliminaries"). Also, avoid saying *"preliminary game final"*; use either "preliminary" for early games or "final" for the last one.
Συνώνυμα
qualifier (Very close in meaning in sports; often slightly more informal and more common in everyday sports talk.)
Αντώνυμα
final (The last and most important game or match, opposite to the early qualifying stage.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
preliminary round
|World Cup preliminaries
|qualify in the preliminaries
|win the preliminary
|knocked out in the preliminaries
Θέματα
sports
|entertainment
Παραδείγματα
- She swam her fastest time ever in the preliminaries.
- The team was knocked out in the preliminary round and did not reach the quarterfinals.
- He easily won his preliminary and advanced to the semifinals.
- Tickets for the preliminaries are cheaper than for the finals.
- The World Cup preliminaries will determine which countries make it to the tournament.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- Our team lost in the preliminary round.
- She won her preliminary and went to the final.
- He did not pass the preliminaries, so he cannot play in the main match.
- The swimmers race in preliminaries in the morning.
- Only the best players from the preliminaries move on.
Ουσιαστικό
technical
C1
event
4
exam before advanced study continues
A special exam that students must pass before they can continue with advanced or doctoral study.
Μοτίβο χρήσης:
take/pass/fail a preliminary
Συχνό λάθος:
This meaning is mostly used in academic contexts, especially in North America. Learners may not realize that "preliminaries" here refers to formal exams, not just simple preparations. In everyday school situations, it is usually better to say "test" or "exam" rather than "preliminary."
Συνώνυμα
qualifying exam (Very close in meaning in academic contexts; often used interchangeably, but sometimes more general and less tied to a specific program.)
Αντώνυμα
final exam (An exam at the end of a course, opposed to an early exam that allows study to continue.)
Συνδυασμοί λέξεων
preliminary exam
|doctoral preliminaries
|sit your prelims
|written preliminary
|oral preliminary
Θέματα
education
|academia
Παραδείγματα
- PhD candidates must pass their preliminary exams before starting their dissertation.
- She failed one of her preliminaries and had to retake it the next semester.
- The department’s written preliminary covers three major areas of sociology.
- After the preliminaries, students move on to their research proposals.
- He is studying hard for his oral preliminary next month.
Παραδείγματα για μαθητές
- I have to pass a preliminary before I can start my PhD research.
- She is nervous about her doctoral preliminaries.
- The preliminary is very long and difficult.
- After you pass the preliminaries, you can write your thesis.
- He failed the preliminary and must take it again.
Γραμματική
Λημματική μορφή
preliminary
IPA
GB/pɹɪlˈɪmənˌɛɹi/
US/pɹɪlˈɪmənˌɛɹi/
Συλλαβές και τόνος
pre - lim - in - ary (4 συλλαβές)
Stress on 2nd syllable (lim)
Τύποι λέξης
Adjective
- Base: preliminary
Noun
- Base: preliminary
- Plural: preliminaries
Οικογένεια λέξεων
Forms
preliminaries
noun
Core family
preliminarily
adverb
Related words
prelim
noun
Negative and opposite forms
final
adjective A2
Εκφράσεις
preliminary findings
1/pɹɪlˈɪmənˌɛɹi fˈaɪndɪŋz/
fixed phrase
early research results
The first results from a study or investigation, which are not complete and may change later.
Παραδείγματα
- Preliminary findings suggest a link between the drug and improved recovery times.
- According to preliminary findings, most customers are satisfied with the new service.
- The scientists stressed that the preliminary findings still need to be confirmed.
preliminary hearing
1/pɹɪlˈɪmənˌɛɹi hˈɪɹɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
early court meeting before trial
A meeting in court before a main trial, where a judge decides if there is enough evidence for the case to go forward.
Παραδείγματα
- The suspect will appear in court for a preliminary hearing next week.
- At the preliminary hearing, the judge ruled that there was enough evidence to proceed to trial.
- Her lawyer requested more time to prepare for the preliminary hearing.
preliminary injunction
1/pɹɪlˈɪmənˌɛɹi ɪnd͡ʒˈʌŋkʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
temporary court order before trial
A temporary order from a court, made before the main trial, that tells a person or company to do something or to stop doing something.
Παραδείγματα
- The judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the new law.
- The company won a preliminary injunction that prevents its competitor from using the disputed trademark.
- Activists are seeking a preliminary injunction to stop construction on the site.
preliminary report
1/pɹɪlˈɪmənˌɛɹi ɹɪpˈɔɹt/
fixed phrase
early written report
A first, short written document that gives early information about something before a full, final report is made.
Παραδείγματα
- The investigation team released a preliminary report on the plane crash.
- According to the preliminary report, human error may have been a factor.
- A preliminary report will be ready next week, with more details to follow.
preliminary results
1/pɹɪlˈɪmənˌɛɹi ɹɪzˈʌlts/
fixed phrase
early outcome numbers
Early numbers or facts from an election, test, study, or other process, which may change when everything is finished.
Παραδείγματα
- Preliminary results from the election show a narrow lead for the opposition.
- The preliminary results will be announced tomorrow, with the final report due next month.
- Preliminary results indicate that the new treatment is safe.