previous Definition
- 1existing or occurring before in time or order; earlier or former
- 2done, occurring, or collected at an earlier time
Using previous: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "previous" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
I met him on a previous occasion.
Example
The previous owners of the house left it in a terrible state.
Example
She had a previous engagement and couldn't come to the party.
previous Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for previous
Antonyms for previous
Phrases with previous
Example
In previous years, the company had made a profit.
experience gained in a particular field or activity before the present one
Example
The job requires previous experience in sales.
previous knowledge
knowledge acquired before the present time
Example
The course assumes some previous knowledge of the subject.
Origins of previous
from Latin 'praevius', meaning 'going before'
Summary: previous in Brief
The term 'previous' [ˈpriːviəs] refers to something that existed or occurred before in time or order. It can describe something that was done, occurring, or collected at an earlier time. Examples include 'I met him on a previous occasion' and 'The previous owners of the house left it in a terrible state.' 'Previous' extends into phrases like 'in previous years,' denoting the years before the present one, and 'previous experience,' referring to experience gained before the present one.