EN

Synonyms for previous

20 synonyms
10 antonyms
1 meaning

adjective

Most common

earlier preceding former prior

All synonyms

Adjective

1. Earlier — prior; occurring before something else, either in time or order

earlier, preceding, former, prior, past, late, early, foregoing, back, forward, antecedent, erstwhile formal IN, precedent, untimely, anterior, quondam formal, whilom, fore dated

Other

Antonyms

following, later, next

All antonyms of previous →

Definitions

adj. 1
Prior; occurring before something else, either in time or order.
He is no better than the previous Prime Minister.

Related words

Word family: previously
Phrases: previous to

Choose the right word

or Previous?

Previous often signifies first by right; as, a previous engagement.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

past Air quality has deteriorated these past few years.
earlier I've been coming to work one train earlier lately.
prior Dad had been sick for four years prior to passing.
preceding This contract will nullify all preceding contracts.
old You are not old enough to go swimming by yourself.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
previous		steady
past		steady
earlier		steady
prior		falling
preceding		falling
old		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters: old¹
4 letters: back¹, past¹, late¹, fore¹
5 letters: early², prior²
6 letters: former², whilom
7 letters: forward², earlier³, quondam
8 letters: anterior⁴, untimely³
9 letters: precedent³, preceding³, premature³, foregoing³, erstwhile²
10 letters: antecedent⁴

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (early² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: précédent
Italiano: precedente
Deutsch: vorig