Previous — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈprē-vē-əs/ pre·vi·ous

Meaning & Definition of Previous

Previous (adjective)

  1. going before in time or order, prior
  2. acting too soon, premature

Previous (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. going before another in time or order

    "the new instructor should consult with the previous teacher about the lesson plans"

    "the previous math problem also included a reference to store discounts"

    similar: antecedent, anterior, foregoing, former, precedent, preceding, prior
    related: advance, early, premature, earliest, first, inaugural, initial, maiden, original, pioneer, preexisting, introductory, preliminary, erstwhile, whilom
    opposite: after, ensuing, following, later, posterior, subsequent, succeeding
    near: advanced, late, closing, concluding, final, last, latest, latter, terminal, ultimate

Related Entry: Previous to (preposition)

Previous to is a different word from Previous. The synonyms below are for previous to, not for previous.

  1. earlier than

    "his passport arrived just previous to his trip"

    similar: afore (chiefly dialect), ahead of, before, ere, fore (chiefly dialect), of, prior to, to, in advance of
    related: till, until, up to
    opposite: after, following
    near: next, next to, since

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Previous

The most common words with a similar meaning to Previous:

antecedent, anterior, foregoing, former, precedent, preceding, prior

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Previous

Words with the opposite meaning of Previous:

after, ensuing, following, later, posterior, subsequent, succeeding

Related Words for Previous

advance, early, premature, earliest, first, inaugural, initial, maiden, original, pioneer, preexisting, introductory, preliminary, erstwhile, whilom

Near Antonyms of Previous

advanced, late, closing, concluding, final, last, latest, latter, terminal, ultimate

Word Forms of Previous

Derived words: previously (adverb), previousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Previous

Latin praevius leading the way, from prae- pre- + via way way

First known use: 1621

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Previous

Words & Phrases Containing Previous

previous question, previous to, the last/previous couple of

Frequently Asked Questions about Previous

What does "Previous" mean?

"Previous" means going before in time or order, prior. As an adjective, it is defined as: going before in time or order, prior.

What is another word for "Previous"?

Other words for "Previous" include antecedent, anterior, foregoing, former, precedent, preceding and prior. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Previous" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Previous"?

There are 22 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Previous". Common alternatives include antecedent, anterior, foregoing, former, precedent, preceding and prior.

What is the opposite of "Previous"?

Antonyms of "Previous" include after, ensuing, following, later, posterior, subsequent and succeeding. Near antonyms include advanced, late, closing and concluding.

How do you use "Previous" in a sentence?

Examples of "Previous" in a sentence: "the new instructor should consult with the previous teacher about the lesson plans"; "the previous math problem also included a reference to store discounts".

Is "Previous" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Previous" is an adjective.

Is "Previous" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Previous" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Previous"?

"Previous" is pronounced /ˈprē-vē-əs/ and divided into syllables as pre·vi·ous.