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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.

Renoir stopped making preparatory studies between 1865 and 1875 when, like his Impressionist colleagues Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley and Camille Pissarro, he worked directly from the motif, without preliminaries.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 20, 2025

Last week he ran a personal best of 15:03 at the preliminaries, so he put together back-to-back weeks reaching peak form.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 23, 2024

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

In bed we went through the preliminaries, plumping our pillows, yawning.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides