Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun preliminary

2 senses of preliminary

Sense 1
preliminary, prelim -- (a minor match preceding the main event)
       => athletic contest, athletic competition, athletics -- (a contest between athletes)

Sense 2
preliminary, overture, prelude -- (something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows; "training is a necessary preliminary to employment"; "drinks were the overture to dinner")
       => origin, origination, inception -- (an event that is a beginning; a first part or stage of subsequent events)

Antonyms of adj preliminary

1 sense of preliminary

Sense 1
preliminary -- (denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important; designed to orient or acquaint with a situation before proceeding; "a preliminary investigation")

INDIRECT (VIA exploratory) -> nonexploratory, nonexplorative, unexploratory, unexplorative -- (not exploratory)

Similarity of adj preliminary

1 sense of preliminary

Sense 1
preliminary -- (denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important; designed to orient or acquaint with a situation before proceeding; "a preliminary investigation")
       => exploratory (vs. nonexploratory), explorative -- (serving in or intended for exploration or discovery; "an exploratory operation"; "exploratory reconnaissance"; "digging an exploratory well in the Gulf of Mexico"; "exploratory talks between diplomats")