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Synonyms

previously

American  
[pree-vee-uhs-lee] / ˈpri vi əs li /

adverb

  1. before now; earlier.

    The evidence now shows a strong likelihood that sea levels will rise more rapidly than previously thought.

    The author was previously managing editor of a multimedia lifestyle company that produced a magazine, website, and newsletters.

Etymology

Origin of previously

previous ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Highland Independent councillor Thomas MacLennan said the property would sit "more comfortably" in the landscape than the previously consented property.

From BBC

Wright was previously a systems engineer at Bendix Aerospace, and at Nasa was responsible for the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package.

From BBC

North Lanarkshire Council - which has been run by a minority Labour administration since 2022 - will also vote on whether to suspend activity with the Scottish Youth Parliament, where Linden previously served as chairman.

From BBC

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have identified a previously unknown system inside cells that acts like internal "trade winds," rapidly carrying important proteins to the front edge of the cell.

From Science Daily

Albanese has previously sought to reassure motorists that shipments of fuel continue to arrive in Australia, and petrol shortages in rural towns stem from panic buying and distribution bottlenecks.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.