preliminaries
Steps before starting
Preliminaries are things that come before and prepare for a main event or activity.
In sports, preliminary rounds determine which competitors advance to the main competition.
In negotiations or discussions, preliminaries are the opening formalities before substantive matters: After the usual preliminaries, they got down to business.
The singular preliminary works the same way but is less common.
Gap or start
- preamblePreliminary statement before content
- prefaceIntroductory book section
- forewordIntroductory book section
- prologueIntroductory literary section
introduction · orientation · icebreaker · welcome · greetings · formalities · salutations · meet-and-greet
Meeting required criteria
- heatsIncreases temperature
- trialsFormal legal proceedings
- roundsAmmunition or bout divisions
- eliminationAct of removing entirely
seeding · brackets · playoffs · qualifiers · tryouts · screening · selection · weigh-in
Foundational preparation for something
- planningArranging for future events
- preparationArranging things in advance
- setupHow something is arranged
- organizationStructured group with purpose
arrangement · logistics · coordination · scheduling · briefing · rehearsal · training · outlining
Foundational preparation for something
- frameworkUnderlying support system
- basisUnderlying support or principle
- foundationUnderlying support structure
- underpinningFoundational support beneath
bedrock · cornerstone · scaffolding · prerequisites · preconditions · fundamentals · essentials · basics
opening
Gap or start
- preamblePreliminary statement before content
- prefaceIntroductory book section
- forewordIntroductory book section
prologue · introduction · orientation · icebreaker · welcome · greetings · formalities · salutations · meet-and-greet · protocol
qualifying
Meeting required criteria
elimination · seeding · brackets · playoffs · qualifiers · tryouts · screening · selection · weigh-in · registration
groundwork
Foundational preparation for something
- planningArranging for future events
- preparationArranging things in advance
- setupHow something is arranged
organization · arrangement · logistics · coordination · scheduling · briefing · rehearsal · training · outlining · provisioning
groundwork
Foundational preparation for something
- frameworkUnderlying support system
- basisUnderlying support or principle
- foundationUnderlying support structure
underpinning · bedrock · cornerstone · scaffolding · prerequisites · preconditions · fundamentals · essentials · basics · baseline
- divingscuba, scuba diving, dive mask, dive helmet, diving bells
- beginningsbegin, beginning, start, first, opening
- competition roundsfinals, semifinals, quarterfinals, first round, second round
- Competition Stagesheats, trials, qualifier, playoff, semifinal
- talent competitionstalent show, talent shows, auditions, judges panel, golden buzzer
- tournament roundsfirst round, second round, third round, final round, opening round
preliminariesconclusions
Judgments reached through reasoning
finales · endings · finals · finale · conclusion
preliminariesmain event
Featured performance or contest
finals · headline act · main attraction · centerpiece · climax