Preview

How to spell preview

7 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce preview

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does preview mean?

1. nounAn advance view, showing, or sample of something before its full release.
2. verbTo view or show something in advance of its general release.

Preview in a sentence

• noun

  The cinema offered a free preview of the new thriller.

• verb

  The editor asked to preview the report before it went to print.

• noun

  The email included a preview of next month's product range.

• verb

  You can preview the document on screen before sending it.

Where does preview come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This word is a transparent compound built from the prefix pre-, taken from the Latin prae meaning 'before' or 'in front of', and 'view', which traces back through Old French veue to the Latin verb videre, meaning 'to see'. The literal sense is therefore 'a seeing beforehand', and that is exactly how the term works today. It is a relatively modern English formation, emerging in the nineteenth century to describe an advance look at something not yet released to the general public. The film and theatre industries of the twentieth century cemented the noun sense, using 'preview' for a special early showing or for a short promotional clip. Because the spelling simply glues 'pre' onto 'view', the only real trap is remembering that there is no extra 'e' between the two halves and no double letters.

How the word is built

• pre- (before)
• view (to see, from Latin videre 'to see')