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
- previously adverb
- previousness noun
Etymology
Origin of previous
First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin praevius “going before,” equivalent to prae- pre- + vi(a) “way” + -us adjective suffix
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.
For its fourth quarter, which ended on Dec. 31, the company reported a net income of $535 million, up from $423 million the previous year.
From Los Angeles Times
The Chinese company’s sales in the top 10 European markets quadrupled in 2025 compared with the previous year, according to calculations from Segment Y. Tesla sales slumped 30% over the same period.
From Los Angeles Times
In previous decades, a Super Bowl commercial was an event in itself with the reveal happening on the telecast.
From Los Angeles Times
The government calculates the licence fee increase by using an annual inflation rate rather than a monthly one, which has been used in some previous years.
From BBC
"They also reflect the impact of previous poor operational execution, the effects of which are being progressively addressed by our new team," he said.
From Barron's
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.
