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Preliminary vs Beginning - What's the difference?

preliminary | beginning |

As adjectives the difference between preliminary and beginning

is that preliminary is in preparation for the main matter; initial, introductory, preparatory while beginning is (informal) of or relating to the first portion of some extended thing.

As nouns the difference between preliminary and beginning

is that preliminary is a preparation for a main matter; an introduction while beginning is (uncountable) the act of doing that which begins anything; commencement of an action, state, or space of time; entrance into being or upon a course; the first act, effort, or state of a succession of acts or states.

As a verb beginning is

.

preliminary

Alternative forms

* (archaic)

Adjective

(-)
  • in preparation for the main matter; initial, introductory, preparatory
  • These are just the preliminary results.
  • *
  • And then, after a few preliminary tries, the whole farm burst out into 'Beasts of England' in tremendous unison.

    Antonyms

    * definitive, final

    Derived terms

    * preliminarily * preliminary results * preliminary considerations

    Noun

    (preliminaries)
  • A preparation for a main matter; an introduction
  • Any of a series of sports events that determine the finalists
  • A relatively minor contest that precedes a major one, especially in boxing
  • beginning

    English

    Alternative forms

    * begynnynge (obsolete)

    Noun

  • (uncountable) The act of doing that which begins anything; commencement of an action, state, or space of time; entrance into being or upon a course; the first act, effort, or state of a succession of acts or states.
  • That which is begun; a rudiment or element.
  • That which begins or originates something; the first cause; origin; source.
  • The initial portion of some extended thing.
  • The author describes the protagonist's youth in the beginning of the story
    The house you want is down at the beginning of the street

    Synonyms

    * (act of doing that which begins anything) commencing, start, starting * element, embryo, rudiment * (that which begins or originates something) origin, source, start, commencement * (initial portion of some extended thing) head, start

    Antonyms

    * (act of doing that which begins anything) conclusion, end

    Derived terms

    * a good beginning makes a good ending * beginning of day * in the beginning

    Verb

    (head)
  • * , chapter=7
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=The turmoil went on—no rest, no peace. […] It was nearly eleven o'clock now, and he strolled out again. In the little fair created by the costers' barrows the evening only seemed beginning ; and the naphtha flares made one's eyes ache, the men's voices grated harshly, and the girls' faces saddened one.}}

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (informal) Of or relating to the first portion of some extended thing.
  • in the beginning paragraph of the chapter
    in the beginning section of the course

    Synonyms

    * first * initial

    Statistics

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