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previous to
/ˈpriːviəs tuː/
before
She had worked in marketing previous to joining the company.
She worked in marketing before joining the company.
formal
Before in time; prior to.
Previous to the meeting, he reviewed all the documents.
Before the meeting, he reviewed all the documents.
The changes were implemented previous to the deadline.
The changes were implemented before the deadline.
Used in formal or written contexts, often in academic, legal, or business writing.
Collocations
previous to thisbefore this point in timeimmediately previous todirectly before
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Replace with simpler alternatives in casual speech
In everyday conversation, prefer 'before' or 'prior to' over 'previous to' for clarity and simplicity.
Gold Rule
Use in formal contexts only
'Previous to' is typically reserved for formal writing, such as academic papers, legal documents, or business reports. It is rarely used in spoken English.
Word Origin
Combines 'previous' (from Latin 'praevius', meaning 'going before') and the preposition 'to'. The phrase emerged in English in the 17th century as a formal way to indicate temporal precedence.
Usage Notes
More common in formal or written English than in casual speech. Often used in academic, legal, or business contexts to emphasize sequence. Avoid in informal writing unless mimicking a formal tone.
Word Breakdown
previous
happening or existing before in time
adjectiveto
indicating a relationship in time or space
prepositionEnglish Dictionary