preliminary

/pɹɪlˈɪmɪnəɹi/

/pɹiˈɫɪməˌnɛɹi/, /pɹɪˈɫɪməˌnɛɹi/

preliminary

occurring before a more important thing, particularly as an act of introduction

Preliminary

a minor match preceding the main event

synonyms : prelim

something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows

synonyms : overture

Examples

1. Research on psychedelics for medical use is preliminary.

2. Our research is still very preliminary.

3. The preliminaries were over.

4. The police opened preliminary investigations into 4 counts of sexual offense.