ENGLISH
REFERENCE

qualifying

n. · adj.
US //ˈkwɑɫəˌfaɪɪŋ// UK //kwˈɒlɪfˌaɪɪŋ// qual·i·fy·ing
  1. 1 sports competition (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    a preliminary race or game that decides if a player can enter a tournament or where they will start.

    a preliminary round of competition used to determine which participants qualify for the main event or to establish their starting positions.

    Example

    He drove the fastest lap during qualifying, so he will start the race in first place.

    Example

    The driver secured pole position after a flawless performance in Saturday's qualifying, despite the unpredictable weather conditions on the track.
  2. 2 an exam or requirement (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Formal

    an exam or a specific condition you must meet to reach the next level of study or a job.

    an evaluative process or set of criteria that must be satisfied to progress to a higher professional or academic status.

    Example

    She is busy studying for her doctoral qualifying exams this month.

    Example

    The board introduced more rigorous qualifying standards to ensure that only the most capable candidates could proceed to the final interview stage.
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  1. 3 describing a requirement (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    used to describe something that allows you to enter or join something else.

    functioning as an attributive adjective to describe rounds, matches, or criteria that lead to a final selection.

    Example

    The team won their qualifying match and will now play in the World Cup.

    Example

    The athlete failed to meet the qualifying time by only a fraction of a second, ending her hopes for the Olympic Games.

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