previous
/ˈprɪviəs/adjective★Beginner
general
Happening or existing before the present time or event
The previous owner left some furniture in the house.
The person who owned the house before the current owner left some items.
💡
Often used to refer to something that came before in time or sequence.
Collocations
previous experiencepast work or life experienceprevious versionan earlier edition or iteration of somethingprevious ownerthe person or entity that possessed something before the current one
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
previous tophrase
before in time
previouslyadverb
at an earlier time
💡Pro Tip
Common Usage
Use 'previous' to refer to something that came before in time or sequence, such as a previous job or a previous version of a document.
⚡Gold Rule
Avoid Redundancy
Do not use 'previous' with words like 'before' or 'past', as it can be redundant. For example, avoid saying 'previous past events'.
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'previus', from Latin 'praevius', meaning 'going before'
📝Usage Notes
Can refer to time, sequence, or ownership. Often used in formal and informal contexts.
Word Breakdown
pre-
before
prefix-vious
related to seeing or coming before
suffixEnglish Dictionary