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

Examples 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 In the women’s game, where contracts have traditionally been three years in length at the most, a high percentage of high-profile moves are because a contract has expired rather than because a club have bought out the player’s previous deal. Michael Cox, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025 Connecticut would receive around $64 million over eight years, said Attorney General William Tong, in a renegotiated deal that is $1.4 billion more than a previous deal that was later overturned by the Supreme Court. Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 24 Jan. 2025 In previous games, the Slayer would be locked into a predetermined animation when committing to a glory kill. John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025 The Project Rise investors fired off a legal letter in October 2024 claiming that Paramount’s special committee violated its fiduciary duty to shareholders by neglecting to consider the group’s previous $8.5 billion bid for the company. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 24 Jan. 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
  • Thankfully this is one area where users have much more control than in prior years.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
  • All Betty employees at the time of the sale have been retained (with raises, Barnum-Dann said) but staff are now expected to bring customers’ food and drinks to them rather than the prior counter service model.
    Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Need something easy to throw on for that early morning flight?
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2025
  • The two options, presented to the governor’s staff in early December, included a plan to have UConn Health stockpile the drug, which would have cost roughly $1.2 million, and another to have Planned Parenthood do so, which would have cost around $850,000, according to Gilchrest.
    Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • After the flight from Cleveland, Mahomes headed to the Chiefs’ training facility for treatment and an initial flexibility assessment.
    Nate Taylor, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Israel and Hamas have struck a deal for an initial cease-fire that will pause hostilities for six weeks and lead to the release of 33 hostages.
    The Editors, National Review, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Progress during the Trump administration halted after then-FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb stepped down from the agency, according to a former top-ranking official.
    Alexander Tin, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2025
  • However, Joann has not had a permanent chief executive since May last year after the retirement of former President and CEO Wade Miquelon.
    Mark Faithfull, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • Judge Barrett did not entirely embrace the notion of super-precedent.
    Jonathan Turley, WSJ, 15 Oct. 2020
Adjective
  • The original tranche of restrictions passed council 7-1.
    Annika Merrilees, Sacramento Bee, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Also want to say a huge thank you to Sheriff Leonard! ♬ original sound – Jelly Roll The men jogged into place.
    Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near previous

Cite this Entry

“Previous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/previous. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

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