Meaning & use
preliminarily
Last updated
UK/prɪˈlɪmɪnərɪli/
US/prɪˈlɪməˌnɛrəli/
Meaning
adverbformal
In a way that comes before the main part of something; as an initial step.
Grammar: Used to describe an action done as a first step: was preliminarily approved.
Patterns
- preliminarily approved
- preliminarily investigated
- preliminarily scheduled
The plan was preliminarily approved by the committee.
The results were preliminarily reported at the conference.
The two sides preliminarily agreed on a price.
Common combinations
- preliminarily approved
- The drug was preliminarily approved for testing.
- preliminarily determined
- The cause of the fire was preliminarily determined to be electrical.
- preliminarily scheduled
- The meeting is preliminarily scheduled for next Monday.
Synonyms and how they differ
- initially
- More common and general; preliminarily is more formal and suggests a step before the main event.
- tentatively
- Suggests uncertainty and possible change; preliminarily focuses on order, not uncertainty.
Opposites
Word family
- preliminary adjective
- Coming before a main action or event.
- preliminary noun
- An early event or round before the main one.
Commonly confused: preliminarily or preemptively?
preliminarily vs preemptively
Means acting before someone else does, not just as an initial step.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'preliminarily' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Preliminarily' is an adverb, so it modifies a verb or participle. 'Announced' is the correct past participle here.
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