preliminary
preliminary — adjective
1. done or happening first as an early step that leads to the main event, decision,
done or happening first as an early step that leads to the main event, decision, or version later
The team sent a preliminary schedule before choosing the final dates.
pattern: preliminary + schedule
Doctors ordered preliminary tests before the child started the new treatment.
collocation: preliminary tests
At the preliminary meeting, parents shared questions about next year's trip.
Engineers' preliminary report showed new cracks in the bridge after Tuesday's storm.
The school posted a preliminary list of science fair winners by the gym.
- initial
close in meaning, but initial mainly marks the first point in a sequence
- introductory
often used for something that starts explanation or study
- preparatory
more directly stresses getting ready for what follows
- tentative
adds the idea that something may still change
- final
fully decided or complete, not an early version
- main
refers to the most important stage or event itself
- conclusive
stresses that later doubt or further steps are no longer needed
文法句型
preliminary + report
preliminary + meeting
preliminary + results
preliminary + list
preliminary + tests
用法筆記
Usually placed before a noun. It often signals that something is temporary or incomplete because a fuller version, decision, or event will come later.
常見錯誤
preliminary — noun
1. something said, done, or arranged first to prepare for what comes next
something said, done, or arranged first to prepare for what comes next
Friday's safety talk was just a preliminary before the full training course.
be just a preliminary before + noun
The short phone call served as a preliminary to Monday's formal interview.
serve as a preliminary to + noun
Their first visit to the site was a preliminary, not the real survey.
The warm-up quiz acted as a preliminary for the final exam.
The nurse arranged a short video call as a preliminary to the hospital visit.
- prelude
more literary and often used for something that leads into a larger event
- introduction
often focuses on the opening part rather than preparation
- first step
more natural in everyday speech and less formal
- warm-up
more informal and common for practice or preparation before performance
- finale
the last and often most important part
- main event
the central stage that the earlier step leads to
文法句型
a preliminary to + noun
serve as a preliminary to + noun
act as a preliminary for + noun
be only a preliminary
用法筆記
Often used in formal contexts and usually takes a or another determiner. A following to-phrase often names the later event, as in 'a preliminary to the interview'.