# previous

/ˈpɹiviəs/ (US) · /pɹˈiːvɪəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/previous
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. happening before

adjective · CEFR B1 · General-service

happening or existing before something else.

For teachers: occurring or existing prior to something else in time or order.

- The previous owner of the house left some old furniture in the attic.
- The researcher noted that the previous findings were inconsistent with the data collected during the most recent phase of the study.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

### 2. too soon

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

acting or happening too quickly or before the right time.

For teachers: acting or occurring prematurely or with undue haste.

- I think you were a bit previous in quitting your job before finding a new one.
- The manager admitted he had been somewhat previous in announcing the merger before the final contracts were actually signed.

Teaching tip: This sense is primarily British and is used to describe someone's judgment or actions as being too hasty.

### 3. criminal record

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Informal

a person's past record of crimes.

For teachers: a record of prior criminal convictions or a history of similar negative behavior.

- The police checked the suspect to see if he had any previous.
- The prosecution argued that the defendant's previous made it highly likely that he was involved in the recent string of robberies.

Usage: Used as an uncountable noun in this context.

Teaching tip: This is a very specific British colloquialism; in formal or American contexts, use 'criminal record' or 'prior convictions'.

## Examples

- I prefer the previous version of this app.
- The new manager decided to change several policies that had been established by the previous administration.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.