previous

Academic Word List, sublist 2.

About 63.26 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. adjective Prior; occurring before something else, either in time or order.

   He is no better than the previous Prime Minister.

2. adjective Premature; acting or occurring too soon.
3. noun An existing criminal record (short for "previous convictions")

   It turned out the shoplifter had a lot of previous.

4. noun A track record of similar behaviour, especially bad behaviour.
5. noun A record of previous hostility or conflict (between people).

   The two players refused to shake hands — there's a bit of previous there.

Similar words

preceding early premature former past old late foregoing antecedent prior

Often followed by

to year chapter section day chapters experience studies years work

Word family

previously previousness previousnesses