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previously

American  
[pree-vee-uhs-lee] / ˈpri vi əs li /

adverb

  1. before now; earlier.

    The evidence now shows a strong likelihood that sea levels will rise more rapidly than previously thought.

    The author was previously managing editor of a multimedia lifestyle company that produced a magazine, website, and newsletters.

Etymology

Origin of previously

previous ( def. ) + -ly

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.

Isabel Rose, from Hackney in east London, went to Hong Kong police in early 2024 after meeting a man she had previously encountered while travelling in Asia.

From BBC

India also said it would defer previously scheduled talks to finalise a recent agreement.

From BBC

He has previously denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.

From BBC

Apple previously tried building Mac Pro computers in Texas, at an Austin facility that opened in 2013.

From The Wall Street Journal

Kaiser had previously called the strike “unnecessary” and filed a lawsuit in January days before it was set to begin.

From Los Angeles Times

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.