previously
/ˈprɪviəsli/adverb★Beginner— at an earlier time
general
at an earlier time; before now
The company had previously announced a new product line.
This means the announcement happened before the current moment.
He had previously visited Paris in 2018.
This indicates his trip to Paris was before the present time.
💡
Often used to contrast past and present situations or states.
Collocations
previously mentionedreferenced earlier in a discussionpreviously statedsaid or written earlierpreviously unknownnot known before now
Synonyms
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Time Context
Use 'previously' to refer to an earlier time in a sequence of events.
⚡Gold Rule
Formal Usage
'Previously' is more formal than 'before' or 'earlier' and is often used in written communication.
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'previusly', from Old French 'previus', from Latin 'prior' (earlier).
📝Usage Notes
Often used in formal writing, legal documents, and technical contexts to establish chronological order.
Word Breakdown
pre-
before
prefix-vious
related to time
suffix-ly
adverb suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary