Word
previously
Phoneticspre·vi·ous·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɹiviəsɫi/
UK/pɹˈiːvɪəsli/
Adverb of time
Definitions
01at an earlier time
B1 · Intermediate
adv. at a time before now or before the period you are talking about.
adv. at a time preceding the current moment or a specified point in the past.
日本語:以前※
“The building was previously used as a factory before it became a museum.”
“The candidate had previously served as the city's mayor, a role that provided her with significant experience in urban planning and public policy.”
Usage
Usually placed before the main verb or at the beginning of a sentence.
Antonyms
02recapitulating a series
B2 · Upper Intermediate Theater General-service
adv. used at the start of a TV show to remind you what happened in earlier episodes.
adv. used as an introductory marker in television broadcasting to signal a summary of prior narrative events.
“Previously on 'The Lost Island', the survivors found a hidden cave.”
“The 'previously on' segment was edited with high-intensity music to remind viewers of the cliffhanger from the season finale.”
Usage
Almost exclusively used in the phrase 'Previously on...' followed by the show's title.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “previously” in context.
Verb
01. previously consider
“They are now looking at options they hadn't previously considered.”
adv + verb
02. previously describe
“The symptoms were exactly as the doctor had previously described.”
adv + verb
03. previously discuss
“We need to review the points we previously discussed in the meeting.”
adv + verb
04. previously encounter
“The team had not previously encountered such a difficult problem.”
adv + verb
05. previously establish
“The rules were previously established by the school board.”
adv + verb
06. previously identify
“The police have caught the suspect previously identified by witnesses.”
adv + verb
07. previously know
“The building was previously known as the Grand Hotel.”
adv + verb
08. previously mention
“I would like to return to the topic I previously mentioned.”
adv + verb
09. previously note
“As previously noted, the office will be closed on Monday.”
adv + verb
10. previously present
“She updated the data she had previously presented to the committee.”
adv + verb
11. previously publish
“This article contains information that was not previously published.”
adv + verb
12. previously regard
“He was previously regarded as the best player on the team.”
adv + verb
Etymology
From previous + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/previously
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0