A preview is an advance look at something before it's fully available or released. When you watch a movie preview (also called a trailer), you see exciting clips that show what the film will be about without revealing the whole story. Teachers often give students a preview of next week's lesson to help them prepare. Museums might offer preview nights for members to see new exhibits before the general public.

A preview lets you sample something ahead of time so you can decide if you want to see more, or it helps you prepare for what's coming.

You can also use preview as a verb: to preview a book means to flip through its pages before deciding whether to read it. Video games often have preview events where players can try out new games before they launch. In school, previewing your homework assignment before diving in can help you understand what you need to do and plan your approach.