Basic Details
Word: Previous
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Coming or happening before the one you are talking about now; earlier.
Synonyms: earlier, former, prior, preceding
Antonyms: next, following, later
How to Spell Previous
Syllables: pre - vi - ous
Tricky part: After pre comes vi, and the ending is ious. Students often leave out the i (prevous) or start with pri.
Watch out for: prevous, privious, previus, preveous
Memory tip: Previous ends exactly like obvious: vious. Write pre, then vious, and the word is done.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The previous chapter explained how rivers form deltas.
Example 2: Meera had met the new coach on a previous visit to the stadium.
Example 3: Unlike the previous winter, this one in Lucknow was mild.
Fun Fact
It comes from the Latin praevius, made of prae, before, and via, way - so it first described someone going ahead on the road.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the meaning of the correctly spelt word:
1. previous 2. libary 3. noticable 4. arguement
a) a disagreement in words
b) a room or building full of books to read
c) easy to see or notice
d) coming before in time or order
Show answer
d) coming before in time or order. Noticeable keeps the e of notice, library has an r after the b, and argument drops the e of argue.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word 'previous' as used in the sentence:
The previous owner of the flat had painted every wall a dull grey.
a) earlier
b) prior
c) next
d) former
Show answer
c) next. Former, earlier and prior all point backwards in time; next points forwards.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to form a word:
pr_v_ous
a) i, i
b) i, e
c) e, i
d) e, e
Show answer
c) e, i. Say it in three beats, pre-vi-ous: the first beat has e and the second has i.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. If you check the previous page, you look at the page that comes ____ this one.
a) just after
b) just before
c) at the end of
d) long after
Show answer
b) just before
2. Which word could replace previous in 'my previous school'?
a) favourite
b) former
c) nearby
d) future
Show answer
b) former
