preseason
noun
pre·sea·son
ˌprē-ˈsē-zᵊn 
ˈprē-ˌsē-zᵊn
plural preseasons
: a period of time immediately preceding a season
tourists who visit during the preseason
especially
: a training period preceding a sport's regular season in which teams compete in unofficial games
The preseason starts in two weeks.
performed well in (the) preseason
Quarterback John Friesz was lost for the year in the preseason to knee surgery. —
Paul Zimmerman
Paul Zimmerman Dennis Rodman's mysterious boycott finally ended on Monday when he arrived for practice for the first time since the start of preseason. —Jack McCallum
Jack McCallum
preseason
adjective
preseason football
preseason training
the preseason opener/finale
preseason rankings/polls
the preseason favorite
Examples of preseason in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bennett showed positive signs during the first two preseason games but struggled in the preseason finale at Denver.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued its preseason hurricane forecast last week, announcing yet another busy hurricane season.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 27 May 2024
Oakland’s first franchise victory was a preseason game at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento in 1960, against the New York Titans.
—Joe Davidson, Sacramento Bee, 20 May 2024
And this team — which has, in the past, treated September like the preseason — will not receive an easy entry into the 2024 season.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 18 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for preseason 
Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2024
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued its preseason hurricane forecast last week, announcing yet another busy hurricane season.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 27 May 2024
Oakland’s first franchise victory was a preseason game at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento in 1960, against the New York Titans.
—Joe Davidson, Sacramento Bee, 20 May 2024
And this team — which has, in the past, treated September like the preseason — will not receive an easy entry into the 2024 season.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 18 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for preseason
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'preseason.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near preseason
Cite this Entry
“Preseason.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preseason. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
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