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previous

adj.
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈpɹiviəs// UK //pɹˈiːvɪəs// pre·vi·ous Academic General-service Informal

adj. happening or existing before the one you are talking about now. You use it to describe something that came earlier in time or order.

adj. existing or occurring before in time or order. Often used to refer to the immediately preceding item or event in a sequence.


SIMPLE

I prefer the previous version of this app.

CONTEXTUAL

The new manager decided to change several policies that had been established by the previous administration.

COMPLEX

While the current study yields promising results, it is important to acknowledge that previous research in this field has often produced contradictory findings regarding long-term efficacy.

Synonyms
Origin

From Latin praevius.

Usage

Typically placed before the noun it modifies. It does not have a comparative or superlative form.

Pitfall

the before chapterthe previous chapterLearners often use 'before' as an adjective, but 'previous' is the correct choice to describe a noun in a sequence.

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