adjective
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(prenominal) existing or coming before something else in time or position; prior
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informal (postpositive) taking place or done too soon; premature
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before; prior to
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of previous
First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin praevius “going before,” equivalent to prae- pre- + vi(a) “way” + -us adjective suffix
Explanation
Previous means the one that just came before. For instance, the previous sentence explained the meaning of the word previous. With previous, you first see that the prefix pre meaning "before." The second part of the word, vius, — think via — means "road," so you’re talking about the road, or thing, before. Previous, though, can be used with people, or anything else too. You will know right away if the previous tenants had cats. Do you ever wonder what you were in a previous life? Rivers are at flood stage from the previous two rain storms.
Vocabulary lists containing previous
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 2
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It may help scientists better understand how habits form, why some behaviors are difficult to change, and how future artificial intelligence systems could become better at building new skills from previous learning.
From Science Daily • Jul. 12, 2026
It is the pair's first meeting at Wimbledon, and on grass, but Sinner won the most recent match in their only previous major final at last year's Australian Open.
From BBC • Jul. 12, 2026
In the previous World Cup cycle, former coach Gregg Berhalter played a possession-based game out of a 4-3-3 base formation with a double pivot.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 12, 2026
U.S. sports-drink sales totaled $10.2 billion for the 12 months that ended June 27, according to Nielsen data, up around 1% from the previous year.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 11, 2026
On previous camping trips there had always been a few other people around, even late in the year like this.
From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
