Previously

/ˈpriːviəsli/

Meaning & Definition

adverb
At a time before the time of speaking; earlier.
I had previously lived in New York before moving to Los Angeles.
In the past; formerly.
She previously worked as a teacher before becoming an author.
Before a specified time.
The meeting was previously scheduled for last week.
In a previous instance or occasion.
The team experienced previously unforeseen challenges during the project.

Etymology

From Middle English, derived from Latin 'praevius', meaning 'going before'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

previously noted:
Mentioned or referenced before.
previously on:
Referring to events that happened in earlier episodes or parts of a series.

Related Words

Slang Meanings

Back in the day.
Back in the day, we didn't have smartphones.
Way back when.
Way back when, nobody worried about social media.