noun
prelim
PREE-lihm
noun
1
A preliminary event, exam, or round that comes before the main one.
"She passed her prelims before starting the final year of her degree."
"The undercard prelim fights started an hour before the main event."
How to Use Prelim
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA casual short form of "preliminary," usually meaning an early test or a warm-up match.
When to use it
Informal; common in student and sports slang.
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She passed her _____ before starting the final year of her degree.
Etymology
A shortened form of preliminary, originally Oxford University slang for a preliminary exam.