preliminary decision / qualifying round
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preliminary decision
A decision or event that strongly influences or effectively determines the final outcome of a situation before the formal end has been reached.
Das 3:0 in der ersten Halbzeit war bereits die Vorentscheidung für das Fußballspiel.
The 3-0 score in the first half was already the preliminary decision in the football match.
qualifying round
A preliminary round or qualifying round in a competition in which the participants for the final or the next round are determined.
Beim Eurovision Song Contest gibt es mehrere Vorentscheidungen, bevor das große Finale stattfindet.
At the Eurovision Song Contest, there are several qualifying rounds before the grand final takes place.
The word is made up of the prefix 'vor-' (pre-, before) and 'Entscheidung' (decision). So it describes a decision that takes place before the final decision or anticipates it.
Die Wahl des Kandidaten war eine wichtige Vorentscheidung für die Partei.
The choice of the candidate was an important preliminary decision for the party.
When an event practically seals the outcome, the phrase 'eine Vorentscheidung fällt' (a preliminary decision is made) is often used. The verb 'fallen' (to fall) is a very common combination here.
Mit dem zweiten Tor fiel im Spiel die Vorentscheidung.
With the second goal, the preliminary decision was made in the match.
You can recognize this meaning from the context of competitions. The word is often used in the plural ('die Vorentscheidungen', the qualifying rounds) or with terms like 'Finale' (final), 'Teilnehmer' (participants), or 'sich qualifizieren' (to qualify).
Viele Künstler hoffen, bei der Vorentscheidung für den Musikwettbewerb erfolgreich zu sein.
Many artists hope to be successful in the qualifying round for the music competition.
decision
Die Entscheidung can refer to the choice or the decision itself. A Vorentscheidung (preliminary decision), by contrast, takes place before the formal end and already strongly influences the final outcome or practically determines it. If the process is complete, Entscheidung is appropriate; if an intermediate event already seems decisive, Vorentscheidung is appropriate.
Der klare Vorsprung im Halbfinale war schon die Vorentscheidung für das Turnier.
The clear lead in the semifinal had already effectively decided the outcome of the tournament.
Im letzten Spiel fiel die Entscheidung erst kurz vor dem Abpfiff.
The decision was not made until shortly before the final whistle in the last game.
