Previous

Pronunciation

Alternative forms

• prævious archaic

Full definition of previous

Adjective

1. Prior; occurring before something else, either in time or order.
• ThomsonThe dull sound ... previous to the storm,
  Rolls o'er the muttering earth.
• 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter Foreword, He stood transfixed before the unaccustomed view of London at night time, a vast panorama which reminded him … of some wood engravings far off and magical, in a printshop in his childhood. They dated from the previous century and were coarsely printed on tinted paper, with tinsel outlining the design.
2. He is no better than the previous Prime Minister.
3. (informal)  Premature; occurring too soon.I thought that I had solved the problem, but I was a bit previous.

Synonyms

• former
• late
• old

Antonyms

• succeeding
• future
• following

Noun

1. (informal, UK) An existing criminal recordIt turned out the shoplifter had a lot of previous.

Anagrams

• pervious
• viperous