previous
just preceding something else in time or order
How often you will meet it
Rank 2,135 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 8,291 times across 175,113 chapters — 0.004% of every word in the library.
What it means
adjective
- just preceding something else in time or order also: old the previous ownermy old house was larger
- (used especially of persons) of the immediate past also: former, late the former presidentour late President is still very active
- too soon or too hasty also: premature our condemnation of him was a bit previousa premature judgment
previous in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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At length the day previous to the important one arrived.
The Station · William Carleton · Chapter 1
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You have had little or no previous experience of school-mastering?'
The Little Nugget · P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse · Chapter 1
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Some had made previous voyages to the West Indies, but the greater portion were new to that country.
Under Drake's Flag · G. A. (George Alfred) Henty · Chapter 1
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It was his last day in London, previous to those years of wandering recorded in "The Twinkling of an Eye."
The Mark of the Beast · Sydney Watson · Chapter 1
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The previous winter had been one of unprecedented severity and had wiped out bears, and herds of caribou and musk oxen.
The Eternal Maiden · T. Everett (Thomas Everett) Harré · Chapter 1