Synonym Chooser

How is the word previous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of previous are antecedent, anterior, foregoing, former, preceding, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.

a child from a previous marriage
a prior obligation

Where would antecedent be a reasonable alternative to previous?

The synonyms antecedent and previous are sometimes interchangeable, but antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

In what contexts can anterior take the place of previous?

While the synonyms anterior and previous are close in meaning, anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.

the anterior lobe of the brain

When might foregoing be a better fit than previous?

In some situations, the words foregoing and previous are roughly equivalent. However, foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

When is it sensible to use former instead of previous?

Although the words former and previous have much in common, former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

When can preceding be used instead of previous?

The meanings of preceding and previous largely overlap; however, preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

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 Time after time, extreme pessimism has set the stage for outsized gains, on average, as evidenced by the 39 previous times where the number of Bulls has been equal to or less than the present tally. John Buckingham, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025 Lamar’s set might not have seemed particularly radical to anyone familiar with his previous use of politics in music. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2025 Cybex e-Priam for $1,300: This was our previous electric stroller pick. Nena Farrell, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2025 Congress has also supported a pay increase in previous legislation. Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 1 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
  • That announcement on his first day in office gave clemency to more than 1,500 Jan. 6, 2021, insurrectionists and protesters for their assault on the U.S. Capitol — including some convicted for beating police and with prior convictions for such crimes as rape, manslaughter and domestic violence.
    Bill Hamilton, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Prior to this contract, the units did not have a wage scale; some workers did receive raises upon reaching certain anniversaries in the workplace on top of the 2% to 3% annual cost of living increases received in the prior four-year contract.
    Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • A day after rolling up 10 points in the first quarter against Nebraska, UCLA’s Gabriela Jaquez Jr. made all three shots in the first quarter while scoring seven points in the early going against the Buckeyes.
    Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2025
  • But whenever that phrasing is used, it is done so to signify that there could be a matter of much more consequence than a regular-season basketball game in early March.
    Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • While the team has become the most successful spring football league franchise, dating back to the years of the initial United States Football League in the 1980s, the Stallions’ growing trophy collection hasn’t quite translated to the team’s bottom line.
    Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The information released by the state to the public gives no indication what might happen if an inmate survives the initial shots.
    Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Tracy Morgan will star as a disgraced former football player on a mission to rehabilitate his image in a new NBC comedy pilot.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Legislators and local officials could change some of this and let the stricken communities try to recapture their former character.
    Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 4 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
  • Many have long since been demolished or altered beyond recognition, but some of the most beautiful have miraculously kept their original structures and decoration intact.
    The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
  • This production also boasts an original music score by young Russian composer (and Yale School of Music grad) Arseniy Gusev and a non-realistic set designed by Silin Chen.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Previous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/previous. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on previous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!