previous
gb/pɹˈiviəs/ us/pɹˈiviəs/
A2
English
~ 900
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
relation
1
Happening earlier or before
Happening or existing before something else in time or order.
Usage pattern:
previous [event/experience/meeting/day]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'previous' with 'former'. 'Previous' refers to something immediately before in sequence or time, while 'former' often means 'from an earlier time' but not necessarily immediately before.
Synonyms
earlier (More conversational and slightly less formal.)
|
prior (More formal or official-sounding.)
Antonyms
next (Refers to the one immediately following in time or order.)
|
subsequent (Formal term meaning coming after something else.)
Collocations
previous experience
|previous meeting
|previous day
|previous year
|previous owner
Themes
time
|sequence
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I couldn't attend the previous meeting due to illness.
- The previous owner of the house left some furniture behind.
- She learned from her mistakes in the previous attempt.
- Our previous conversation helped me understand your point.
- Please refer to the previous chapter for more details.
Learner examples
- I met him at the previous party.
- The previous lesson was very hard.
- We talked about it in the previous class.
- I visited London in the previous year.
- The shop was closed on the previous day.
Grammar
Dictionary form
previous
IPA
GB/pɹˈiviəs/
US/pɹˈiviəs/
Syllables & stress
pre - vi - ous (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pre)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: previous
Word family
Core family
previously
adverb B1
Negative and opposite forms
next
adjective A1
following
adjective
Expressions
previous to
1/pɹˈiviəs tə/
fixed phrase
Before in time compared to
Before a certain time or event.
Examples
- Previous to joining the company, she worked as a teacher.
- The law was different previous to this change.