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

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

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

Drummond flirted with a preseason triple-double and posted eight points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals in 20 minutes. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026

The Heat’s roster is currently at the preseason maximum of 21 players, and rosters must be cut to a maximum total of 18 players (15 on standard contracts and three on two-way contracts) by the start of the regular season. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

As with Saturday’s preseason-opening victory over the Toronto Raptors in Quebec City, Antetokounmpo’s action in this home debut was limited to the first half. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026

Chicago Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson played his first minutes at the United Center on Wednesday, starting the preseason opener against the Phoenix Suns. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preseason

• milesian
• partizan
• postseason
• unreason
• reason
• season
• seizin
• treason