previous

comparative more previous · superlative most previous · alternative archaic prævious

1. not comparablePrior; occurring before something else, either in time or order.

   He is no better than the previous Prime Minister.

   2 more examples

   He stood transfixed before the unaccustomed view of London at night time, a vast panorama which reminded him […] of some wood engravings far off and magical, in a printshop in his childhood. They dated from the previous century and were coarsely printed on tinted paper, with tinsel outlining the design.

   1963, Margery Allingham, “Foreword”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC

   Putin’s answered by simply stating he did not believe Ukraine had honored the previous ceasefires Moscow had unilaterally called, and that Kyiv has said Moscow never respected either.

   2025 May 10, Nick Paton Walsh, “Ukraine ceasefire call is aimed at forcing Putin to reveal his war goals to Trump”, in CNN

2. informalPremature; acting or occurring too soon.

   I was a bit previous it turned out, as I worked short-handed for ten days before I could find another hand.

   2010, Gerald Lynch, Roughnecks, Drillers, and Tool Pushers

plural previouses · alternative archaic prævious

1. UKcountableinformaluncountableAn existing criminal record (short for "previous convictions")

   It turned out the shoplifter had a lot of previous.

   1 more example

   Simmons had eight previouses: robberies, burglaries, a couple of felonious assaults.

   1994, William J. Caunitz, Three complete novels: Black Sand; Suspects; One Police Plaza

   Synonyms: form

2. UKcountableinformaluncountableA track record of similar behaviour, especially bad behaviour.

   Mitigation will be limited given his previous and as he has already attended tackle school he cannot return.

   2023-08-13, Gerard Meagher, “Owen Farrell’s red card likely to put England’s World Cup plans in disarray”, in The Guardian

   1 more example

   For that Smalling will have to do his time grazing in the scapegoat’s paddock because his contribution here supplied hard evidence of a player lacking the football intelligence that is needed at the highest level. He has previous on that front and it is difficult to find any mitigation for the way he scythed down James Milner when the first rule for a defender on a yellow card is not to dive in unless it is absolutely necessary.

   November 2 2014, Daniel Taylor, “Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United”, in guardian.co.uk

3. UKcountableinformaluncountableA record of previous hostility or conflict (between people).

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