previous

Happening or existing before the time or thing being discussed.

• Read the previous page.
• Her previous job was in a bank.
• We had met the previous summer.

Similar words: earlier, prior, preceding

Opposites: next, subsequent

Common phrases: previous year, previous experience, previous owner

A record of crimes someone has been found guilty of in the past.

• The thief had previous.
• Police discovered that she had no previous.
• The judge knew he had previous for assault.

How to use it: have previous (The suspect has previous for theft.)

Similar words: criminal record

Common phrases: have previous, no previous, a lot of previous

A history of arguments or trouble between people.

• Those two have previous.
• There is some previous between the neighbours.
• She refused to cooperate because they had previous.

How to use it: have previous with someone (He has previous with the other player.)

Similar words: bad blood, history

Common phrases: some previous, have previous, previous between people

Before a particular time or event; used with "to".

• The damage occurred previous to our arrival.
• No records survive previous to that date.
• She had lived abroad previous to her marriage.

How to use it: previous to something (The building existed previous to the war.)

Similar words: before, prior to

Opposites: after

Common phrases: previous to something, previous to arrival, previous to departure