Preliminary for Dummies

Preliminary is a word that we use to describe something that comes before the main or final thing. Think about it like this - when you want to bake a delicious cake, what do you have to do first? You have to gather all the ingredients, right? Well, that's like the preliminary step. It's the initial part of the whole process. We can also say that preliminary means the first step, the beginning, or the early stage of something.

But let me give you another example to make it even clearer. Have you ever watched a sports game on TV? Before the actual game starts, they usually have what we call a "preliminary" or a "pre-game" show. It's like a warm-up or an introduction to the main event. They talk about the teams, the players, and what might happen during the game. So the preliminary part here is all the stuff that happens before the real action begins.

The word "preliminary" can also describe something that is not completely finished or finalized. It's like a draft version or a rough sketch. Imagine you are drawing a picture, and before you add all the colors and details, you make a quick outline. That outline is a preliminary version of your final artwork. It's not complete yet, but it helps you get an idea of what the final picture will look like.

To sum it up, "preliminary" means the initial, first, or early stage of something. It's like the stepping stone or the starting point that comes before the main thing. It can also describe something that is not fully finished or needs more work. Just remember, like the ingredients are to a cake, or the pre-game show is to a sports game, the preliminary part is essential because it sets the foundation for what comes next.