Basic Details
Word: Preliminary
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Coming before the main part of something and preparing for it.
Synonyms: introductory, opening, initial
Antonyms: final, concluding
How to Spell Preliminary
Syllables: pre - lim - i - nar - y
Tricky part: The vowels after l are i, i, a: pre-lim-i-nar-y. Students often write ery at the end or e in the middle.
Watch out for: preliminery, prelimenary, preliminarry
Memory tip: Split it as pre + lim + in + ary: before you go in to the main event, there is a preliminary round.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The preliminary round of the quiz was held in the school library.
Example 2: After a preliminary check, the doctor sent Neha for an X-ray.
Example 3: The engineers made preliminary drawings before building the bridge.
Fun Fact
The UPSC civil services examination in India begins with a preliminary exam, often called the prelims, before the main written exam and the interview.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to complete the word:
prel_m_n_ry
a) i, i, e
b) i, i, a
c) i, e, a
d) e, i, e
Show answer
b) i, i, a. Say pre-LIM-i-nar-y: two short i sounds, then the a of ary.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word preliminary as it is used in the sentence:
Only twenty teams cleared the preliminary stage of the national robotics contest.
a) final
b) early
c) opening
d) introductory
Show answer
a) final. The final stage comes at the end, while the other options all describe the start.
Spell-o-Spell
Read the four words. Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. qualefy 2. preliminary 3. tornament 4. finallist
a) coming before the main part, as a first step
b) a series of matches between many players or teams
c) to reach the standard needed to take part
d) a person who reaches the last round of a contest
Show answer
a) coming before the main part, as a first step. Qualify has i after the l, tournament has ou, and finalist keeps a single l.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Before the full survey, the team did a preliminary study. This was ____.
a) a first, smaller study
b) the last and biggest study
c) a study copied from others
d) a study that went wrong
Show answer
a) a first, smaller study
2. Which of these is most like a preliminary step?
a) the final whistle
b) receiving the gold medal
c) the closing ceremony
d) warming up before a race
Show answer
d) warming up before a race
