as in preceding
going before another in time or order
the new instructor should consult with the previous teacher about the lesson plans the previous math problem also included a reference to store discounts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of previous
Emergency declared South Carolina In South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency Saturday as part of an effort to stop a blaze in Pickens County called the Table Rock Fire that started the previous day in an area within the Blue Ridge Mountains.
—
CBS News, 23 Mar. 2025
In 2021, Linfield went full-time; an upgrade from their previous semi-professional status.
—Colin Millar, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
The upbeat track serves as the trio’s first new release of the year, following previous collaborations with Marshmello and Rascal Flatts.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 23 Mar. 2025
Potter is unbeaten in his previous seven encounters with Moyes.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for previous
CBS News, 23 Mar. 2025
In 2021, Linfield went full-time; an upgrade from their previous semi-professional status.
—Colin Millar, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
The upbeat track serves as the trio’s first new release of the year, following previous collaborations with Marshmello and Rascal Flatts.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 23 Mar. 2025
Potter is unbeaten in his previous seven encounters with Moyes.
—Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for previous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for previous
Adjective
-
Most of those were seized on Oct. 7, 2023, but others were taken hostage in the preceding decade, and a substantial number are no longer alive.—
Jerome Socolovsky,
NPR,
19 Jan. 2025
-
During the preceding month, the platform was profiting off political ads from at least three of the lawmakers who signed the letter: Goldman, Schiff and Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.).—
Aaron Schaffer,
Washington Post,
11 Dec. 2023
Adjective
-
In a country where prior governments sometimes have been slow to accept foreign aid, Min Aung Hlaing said that Myanmar was ready to accept outside assistance.—
Time,
Time,
29 Mar. 2025
-
Study findings support prior research The idea that artificial sweeteners may be increasing hunger signals from the mammalian brain isn’t new — a prior study coauthored by Page found women and people with obesity were especially sensitive.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Combined with their latest findings, researchers are better understanding the progression from a baby’s earlier statistical learning formations to the development of episodic memories.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Nestled in the forest foothills outside Rapid City, this Lutheran chapel is an exact replica of Norway’s historic Borgund Stave Church, built around 1150 AD during the early years of Christianity in the Viking world.—
Joe Yogerst,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
An investigation is underway and police are searching for the driver who caused the initial crash, the station reported.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2025
-
Europe has historically lagged behind, both in the initial space race of the 1960s and 1970s and the subsequent rush by commercial companies to reach orbit.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Torossian served as former Council President Paul Krekorian’s chief of staff before joining Councilmember Adrin Nazarian’s staff.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2025
-
Reinhart pulls off he achievement of playing convincingly both her adult self and nine-year old former self, forced to grow too fast.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s because precedent changes in small but important ways all the time.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2025
-
This adaptation demands re-conceiving large chunks of plot from the ground-up while retaining Liu’s themes, not to mention visualizing concepts with less precedent onscreen than the fantasy tropes Martin deployed and subverted.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2024
Adjective
-
In its message to members, NADA — which did not offer any additional comment to NPR, and did not comment for NPR's original story — indicated that in addition to consumers, some auto dealers were also affected by this problem.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
26 Mar. 2025
-
In the wake of the big bang, the universe gradually cooled down from its original, ultra-hot state, eventually allowing—around the universe's 380,000th birthday—free protons and electrons to combine into a fog mainly made up of neutral hydrogen atoms.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Previous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/previous. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share