# qualifying

/ˈkwɑɫəˌfaɪɪŋ/ (US) · /kwˈɒlɪfˌaɪɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/qualifying
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. sports competition

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- He drove the fastest lap during qualifying, so he will start the race in first place.
- The driver secured pole position after a flawless performance in Saturday's qualifying, despite the unpredictable weather conditions on the track.

### 2. an exam or requirement

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

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

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

- She is busy studying for her doctoral qualifying exams this month.
- The board introduced more rigorous qualifying standards to ensure that only the most capable candidates could proceed to the final interview stage.

### 4. describing a requirement

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

- The team won their qualifying match and will now play in the World Cup.
- The athlete failed to meet the qualifying time by only a fraction of a second, ending her hopes for the Olympic Games.

## Examples

- The team is training hard for the Olympic qualifying next week.
- After a disappointing performance in the first round of qualifying, the driver started the race from the back of the grid.
- The tension during the final minutes of qualifying was palpable, as even a fraction of a second could mean the difference between competing for the trophy or going home.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.