preview

1 of 2

verb

pre·​view ˈprē-ˌvyü How to pronounce preview (audio)
previewed; previewing; previews
Synonyms of previewnext

transitive verb

1
: to see beforehand
specifically : to view or to show in advance of public presentation
2
: to give a preliminary survey of
previewer
ˈprē-ˌvyü-ər How to pronounce preview (audio)
noun

preview

2 of 2

noun

1
: an advance statement, sample, or survey
2
: an advance showing or performance (as of a movie or play)
3
or less commonly prevue
ˈprē-ˌvyü How to pronounce preview (audio)
: a selected group of scenes shown to advertise a movie, television show, etc.

called also trailer

Examples of preview in a Sentence

Verb The designers will preview their new lines at the fashion show. They previewed the upcoming football season. You can preview the page before you print it. Noun We saw the movie at a special preview. Before the movie starts they always show previews of coming attractions. There are previews of the next week's episode at the end of each show. They gave a preview of the upcoming football season. The magazine includes a preview of the newest fall fashions.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
First previewed at Saucony’s Paris Men’s Fashion Week showroom in June, the shoe features a rich palette of burgundy, cream and metallic gold. — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 Star columnists Vahe Gregorian and Sam McDowell preview the season and try to make sense of what’s happening with the sport. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
With the day’s storms recently broken, the muggy summer air made way for a preview of the better days of fall to set the stage for an evening at the open-air movies. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026 Entertainment and features editor Brittany Levine Beckman attended the press preview where Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson spoke about the challenges Lucas faced in his quest to realize his dream of building a museum for his collection. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for preview

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of preview was in 1607

Phrases Containing preview

Rhymes for preview

See All Rhymes for preview

Browse Nearby Words

previable
preview
previous
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preview.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preview. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

preview

1 of 2 verb
pre·​view ˈprē-ˌvyü How to pronounce preview (audio)
: to view or show in advance

preview

2 of 2 noun
1
: a showing of something (as a movie) before regular showings
2
also prevue
-ˌvyü How to pronounce preview (audio)
: a showing of bits from a movie that is to be shown in the near future

More from Merriam-Webster on preview

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for preview

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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