preliminary

Universal Words adjective, noun adjective ~ (to sth) happening before a more important action or event SYNINITIAL: After a few preliminary remarks he announced the winners. * preliminary results / findings / enquiries * the preliminary rounds of the contest * pilot studies preliminary to a full-scale study noun (plural preliminaries) ~ (to sth) a preliminary is an action or event that is done in preparation for sth: Research will be needed as a preliminary to taking a decision. * I'll skip the usual preliminaries and come straight to the point. * England was lucky to get through the preliminaries (= the preliminary stages in a sports competition).