previous to

Definition of previous tonext
as in before
earlier than his passport arrived just previous to his trip

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 to The actor had lived in the home for some time previous to the renovation, and is seen walking through the bare-bones home sharing stories about each room before the gut job began. Claudia Williams, Architectural Digest, 12 Dec. 2024 In the four years previous to that Flamengo and Palmeiras dominated South American football winning two titles each. Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024 The other alleged incident happened previous to the plaintiff’s full-time employment with Ye’s operations, which started in 2021. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 13 Oct. 2024 Pulte lived in Florida previous to his nomination to lead the independent agency, but his family has roots in metro Detroit. Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 14 Jan. 2022 See All Example Sentences for previous to
Recent Examples of Synonyms for previous to
Preposition
  • Scientists tracking humpbacks off the coast of Australia have captured rare footage that shows clutches of the freeloading fish peeling away from their host in what looks like a high-speed game of chicken, just moments before the whale breaches.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Soika, a surgeon, unsuccessfully tried to book a rental car to get to Utah for a weekend trip before settling on an option that seemed straight out of Hollywood.
    JOSH FUNK, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2025
Preposition
  • Sherpa Original Deluxe Travel Pet Carrier Many passengers arrive at their boarding gate with gear that needs special handling, but don’t check in with the gate agent prior to boarding.
    Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Recall that a year prior to Wardlaw passing her hot check, criminal court records confirm her guilty disposition for the crime of skipping out on a wholly different criminal-court appearance, which is a class C misdemeanor.
    Robert Steinbuch, Arkansas Online, 9 Jan. 2026
Preposition
  • Johnson said that the animal caused extensive damage to his home, costing tens of thousands of dollars.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The Joshua School does not have access to the bus video or activities that occur on the bus.
    Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Previous to.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/previous%20to. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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