previous

[ pree-vee-uhs ]
/ ˈpri vi əs /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR previous ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

coming or occurring before something else; prior: the previous owner.
Informal. done, occurring, etc., before the proper time; premature: Aren't you a little previous with that request?

Idioms for previous

    previous to, before; prior to: Previous to moving here she lived in Chicago.

Origin of previous

1615–25; < Latin praevius going before, equivalent to prae- pre- + vi(a) way + -us adj. suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM previous

pre·vi·ous·ly, adverb pre·vi·ous·ness, noun

Words nearby previous

preverbal, prevertebral ganglia, preview, preview monitor, previn, previous, previous question, previse, prevision, previus, prevocalic

Words related to previously

then, already, formerly, heretofore, once, hitherto, antecedently, ahead, ante, back, before, beforehand, erstwhile, fore, forward, one-shot

Example sentences from the Web for previously

British Dictionary definitions for previously

previous
/ (ˈpriːvɪəs) /

adjective

(prenominal) existing or coming before something else in time or position; prior
(postpositive) informal taking place or done too soon; premature
previous to before; prior to

Derived forms of previous

previously, adverb previousness, noun

Word Origin for previous

C17: from Latin praevius leading the way, from prae before + via way