1. in a preliminary manner; as an initial step or preparation before the main action

Examples

• The data was preliminarily reviewed before the full analysis began.
• The judge preliminarily ruled in favor of the plaintiff.
• We preliminarily agreed to the terms, pending legal review.
• The results were preliminarily positive, but more testing is needed.
• The committee preliminarily approved the budget proposal.
• The site was preliminarily surveyed for archaeological artifacts.