Previousmeans "beforenow" or "before this." If something is previous, ithappenedearlier.
UsageInstructions:
Use "previous" when you want to comparesomething that is happeningnowor is present to something that happenedbefore.
Examples:
"I liked the previousversion of the bookbetter than thisone." (Thismeans you liked the olderversion of the bookmore.)
"The previouspresidentmademanyimportant changes." (Thisrefers to the presidentwhowas in officebefore the currentone.)
AdvancedUsage:
In moreformalorliterary contexts, "previous" can be used torefer to events in historyor to describeprocesses in research where priorwork is relevant.
Word Variants:
Previously (adverb): Thismeans "at an earliertime."
Example: "I had previouslyvisited that city."
Preceding (adjective): Similar in meaning, butoftenused toindicatesomething that directlycomesbeforeanother in a sequence.
Example: "The precedingchapterwasveryinteresting."
Different Meanings:
In some contexts, "previous" can refer to something that is inappropriateortoohasty.
Example: "Our previousjudgment of him wasunfair." (Thismeans that the judgmentmadeearlierwasdonetooquickly.)
Synonyms:
Former
Prior
Earlier
Antecedent
Idioms:
There aren't specificidioms that use the word "previous," but you mighthearphraseslike "in the previousyear," which simplymeans "in the yearbeforethisone."
Phrasal Verbs:
Thereare no commonphrasalverbs that include "previous," but you can combineit with otherwords to expresscomplex ideas.
Example: "The previousdiscussionsledus to thisconclusion." (Here, "ledus to" is the phrasal verb.)
Summary:
"Previous" is a usefulword for talkingaboutthings that happenedbefore the present moment. Ithelpsusunderstandsequences of events and comparepastsituations with current ones.