pre·vi·ous 
/ˈpri:vijəs/ adjective
/ˈpri:vijəs/ adjective 1 : existing or happening before the present time
▪ She has a child from a previous marriage. ▪ She has made previous attempts to quit smoking. [=she has tried to quit smoking before] ▪ No previous [=past] experience is necessary. ▪ I can't go to the party because of a previous [=prior] engagement. [=because I agreed to be somewhere else before I knew about the party] 2 a : earlier in time or order
▪ In previous [=past] years, we always went to the beach for vacation. ▪ a previous album/book [=an album/book made before the current album/book] ▪ The two characters met in a previous chapter. ▪ the previous owners of the house
b : immediately before in time or order
▪ It was Tuesday, and we'd met for lunch the previous day. [=the day immediately before; Monday]
▪ She has a child from a previous marriage. ▪ She has made previous attempts to quit smoking. [=she has tried to quit smoking before] ▪ No previous [=past] experience is necessary. ▪ I can't go to the party because of a previous [=prior] engagement. [=because I agreed to be somewhere else before I knew about the party]
▪ In previous [=past] years, we always went to the beach for vacation. ▪ a previous album/book [=an album/book made before the current album/book] ▪ The two characters met in a previous chapter. ▪ the previous owners of the house
b : immediately before in time or order
▪ It was Tuesday, and we'd met for lunch the previous day. [=the day immediately before; Monday]
previous to
somewhat formal : before (a time, event, etc.)
▪ I lived in Boston for a while and previous to [=prior to] that, I lived in Miami.
▪ I lived in Boston for a while and previous to [=prior to] that, I lived in Miami.
— pre·vi·ous·ly adverb
▪ Previously, the state paid for the program. ▪ The author's new book includes some previously published material.
▪ Previously, the state paid for the program. ▪ The author's new book includes some previously published material.
