preliminary

初步的、初期的

Preliminary results suggest the new treatment works for most patients.

初步結果顯示，這種新療法對大多數病人有效。

預備的、事前的

We held a preliminary meeting to set the agenda.

我們開了一次預備會議，訂出議程。

預賽的、資格賽的體育

She was eliminated in the preliminary rounds of the tournament.

她在這場賽事的預賽階段就被淘汰了。

準備工作、初步措施常用複數

Let's skip the preliminaries and get to the main issue.

我們別再囉嗦客套，直接進入重點吧。

預賽、資格賽

Only the top three from each preliminary advance to the final.

每場預賽只有前三名可以晉級決賽。