preliminary
gb/pɹɪlˈɪmənˌɛɹi/ us/pɹɪlˈɪmənˌɛɹi/
B2
Inglês
~ 5100
Aceções
0 aceções
adjective
B2
property
1
happening before the main event
Happening or done first, before the main thing, usually to prepare for it.
Padrão de uso:
[preliminary] [noun]
Erro comum:
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.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
final (Describes the last or conclusive stage, the opposite of an early or preparatory stage.)
Colocações
preliminary results
|preliminary report
|preliminary investigation
|preliminary talks
|preliminary hearing
|preliminary round
Temas
work
|education
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- 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.
Nome
C1
event
2
preparatory step before the main part
Something that happens before the main event or action to prepare for it.
Padrão de uso:
a preliminary to [something]
Erro comum:
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.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
main event (Refers to the central or most important part, which comes after the preliminaries.)
Colocações
go through the preliminaries
|the preliminaries to [negotiations]
|as a preliminary
|after the usual preliminaries
|social preliminaries
Temas
work
|social
|procedures
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- 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.
Nome
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.
Padrão de uso:
win/lose a preliminary
Erro comum:
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.
Sinónimos
qualifier (Very close in meaning in sports; often slightly more informal and more common in everyday sports talk.)
Antónimos
final (The last and most important game or match, opposite to the early qualifying stage.)
Colocações
preliminary round
|World Cup preliminaries
|qualify in the preliminaries
|win the preliminary
|knocked out in the preliminaries
Temas
sports
|entertainment
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- 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.
Nome
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.
Padrão de uso:
take/pass/fail a preliminary
Erro comum:
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."
Sinónimos
qualifying exam (Very close in meaning in academic contexts; often used interchangeably, but sometimes more general and less tied to a specific program.)
Antónimos
final exam (An exam at the end of a course, opposed to an early exam that allows study to continue.)
Colocações
preliminary exam
|doctoral preliminaries
|sit your prelims
|written preliminary
|oral preliminary
Temas
education
|academia
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- 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.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
preliminary
IPA
GB/pɹɪlˈɪmənˌɛɹi/
US/pɹɪlˈɪmənˌɛɹi/
Sílabas e acento
pre - lim - in - ary (4 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (lim)
Formas da palavra
Adjective
- Base: preliminary
Noun
- Base: preliminary
- Plural: preliminaries
Família de palavras
Forms
preliminaries
noun
Core family
preliminarily
adverb
Related words
prelim
noun
Negative and opposite forms
final
adjective A2
Expressões
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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.
Exemplos
- 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.