previous

adjective

ˈprē-vē-əs How to pronounce previous (audio)
Definition of previousnext
as in preceding
going before another in time or order the new instructor should consult with the previous teacher about the lesson plans the previous math problem also included a reference to store discounts

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word previous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of previous are antecedent, anterior, foregoing, former, preceding, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.

a child from a previous marriage
a prior obligation

Where would antecedent be a reasonable alternative to previous?

The synonyms antecedent and previous are sometimes interchangeable, but antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

In what contexts can anterior take the place of previous?

While the synonyms anterior and previous are close in meaning, anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.

the anterior lobe of the brain

When might foregoing be a better fit than previous?

In some situations, the words foregoing and previous are roughly equivalent. However, foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

When is it sensible to use former instead of previous?

Although the words former and previous have much in common, former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

When can preceding be used instead of previous?

The meanings of preceding and previous largely overlap; however, preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of previous In previous slow starts to games this season, various phases of MU’s attack (offense, defense, special teams) picked each other up. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026 After the big hit on the previous drive, Hoover remained in the game but appeared to be playing through an injury. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 Coastal erosion has caused flooding along the PCH during previous El Niños, including in the mid-1980s and late 1990s. — Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026 Therefore, additional heavy rain may quickly create new areas of flooding and cause previous areas of flooding to redevelop. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for previous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for previous
  1. preceding
  2. prior
  3. early
  4. initial
  5. former
  6. precedent
  7. original
Adjective
  • In those days, the Emirati air force and air defense were much more modest than today, outmatched in quality and quantity by Iran’s air and naval forces built in the preceding decade by the last shah.
    — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 22 Mar. 2026
  • As a result, far fewer people were arrested and deported from the border than in the preceding few years.
    — Albert Sun, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2026
Definition of preceding
Adjective
  • Peet, who had been screened since her late 30s because of dense breast tissue and prior benign lumps, was treated with a lumpectomy and radiation and is now on tamoxifen.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The league can suspend players without criminal charges, and his prior assault conviction may factor into a decision.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of prior
Adjective
  • In this golden age of cringe, that earlier art of transgression—with its tense silences, humiliations, and hostile disturbance of the performer-audience relationship—was channeled downstream.
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That earlier aircraft established a historical precedent for using the Hercules platform in this specialized role.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of early
Adjective
  • When no one responds to the initial greeting, the caller tries again.
    — Sam Corbin, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • In the case of 3/1, 5/1 and 7/1 ARMs — three very common types — the initial term is three, five and seven years, respectively.
    — Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of initial
Adjective
  • Advertisement The following day, in a public conversation moderated by renowned journalist Christiane Amanpour, President Nataša Pirc Musar of Slovenia, former Irish President Mary Robinson and I reflected on the choices before humanity.
    — Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Following the simultaneous departures of former chiefs Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) and Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) at the end of last season, long-time fans might have expected another familiar face to take the helm.
    — Max Gao, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of former
Adjective
  • Much of its aid has come in unsigned rulings on the emergency docket—ostensibly temporary and non-precedent-setting judgments that nevertheless carry serious consequences.
    — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Their protections may have been further eroded with a precedent decision recently in which the Board of Immigration Appeals determined that DACA status alone is not enough to stop deportation.
    — Hallie Golden, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
Definition of precedent
Adjective
  • Dyrholm’s casting in Incidents of Intimacy marks a homecoming for the Danish actress who was part of the ensemble cast in Thomas Vinterberg’s Cannes Jury Prize winner The Celebration, the first film to be made under the original manifesto.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The company didn’t launch a website until almost a year after the original retail.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of original

Phrases Containing previous

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previews
previous
previously
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Cite this Entry

“Previous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/previous. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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