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

Example 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 Were national parks closed in Kentucky during previous government shutdowns? Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Oct. 2025 The family soon realizes that the ghosts of the previous tenants (and their victims) live on in the house, while next-door neighbor Constance Langdon (Jessica Lange in an Emmy-winning performance) has an agenda of her own. James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Oct. 2025 Trump had tapped Antoni to lead the bureau in August after abruptly firing the previous BLS commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, over a disappointing jobs report. Scott Horsley, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025 Pumpkin spice is still huge, but maybe not as dominant as its been in previous years. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for previous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for previous
Adjective
  • In the preceding month, Gamestop also closed its NFT marketplace, just months after removing support for its NFT wallet.
    Nicholas Kitonyi, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • The athletic apparel maker beat Wall Street's expectations on both lines and unexpectedly posted sales growth compared with the prior year.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Mario Suarez-Maya, 47, from Mexico, was arrested following two prior DUI charges, three arrests for driving without a license, and an incident of providing a false name to law enforcement.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Voters also tend to lean more nationalist and conservative during economic downturns, said Hajime Kidera, a professor at Meiji University’s School of Political Science and Economics – which is one reason Abe was so popular during the post-recession early 2010s.
    Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Some schools offer early childhood education, pre-K and special programs for students with special needs.
    Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Arsenal’s flanks were regularly targeted despite Jeglertz admitting the initial game plan was to sear through Arsenal’s middle.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The funding amounts approved for the 2025-26 school year are $6,864 per student and $7,627 for each former recipient of the Succeed Scholarship, according to the Education Department.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2025
  • The journalists were among 15 people arrested during the July 17 demonstration held in support of Imam Ayman Soliman, an Egyptian immigrant and former Cincinnati Children's chaplain who was detained by ICE several days before.
    Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • That’s because precedent changes in small but important ways all the time.
    Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • The original Champagnes weren’t bottled with the intent of undergoing secondary fermentation that would cause its trademark bubbles to form.
    Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2025
  • The state amended its original complaint in federal district court and filed a second temporary restraining order to pause the president’s actions, Rayfield said.
    Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Previous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/previous. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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