Adjective:
just preceding something else in time or order;the previous owner
my old house was larger
used especially of persons of the immediate past;the former president
our late President is still very active
the previous occupant of the White House
too soon or too hasty;our condemnation of him was a bit previous
a premature judgment
previous，foregoing，preceding，prior，former这些形容词均可表示“在前的”之意。
previous指时间上、顺序上较早的，或指正在谈论的某事的前一个。
foregoing指前所述的，是following的反义词。
preceding特指时间和地位上紧接在前。
prior与previous同义，常可换用，但prior有时强调更大的重要性，对比意味强。
former系latter的反义词，比prior更着重对比。
1625年进入英语，直接源自拉丁语的prvius：pr 之前） +via (路），意为之前的路。
用作形容词 (adj.
～+介词previous to departure在出发之前previous to sb's arrival在某人到达之前
用作形容词adj.previous to在…之前before; prior to
近义词 pastformerearlierpreceding反义词 latertimely
用作形容词adj.
用作定语
～+ n.The author mentioned it in the previous paragraph.作者在前一段里提到这件事。
He said he had arrived on the previous night.他说他是在前一天夜里到达的。
His previous attempts had been unsuccessful.他以前的尝试没成功。
A previous engagement prevents me from accepting your kind invitation.我因事前有了约会,不能接受您的盛情邀请。
用作表语
S+be+～+ prep .-phraseDon't be too previous about refusing.别过急地拒绝。
Aren't you rather previous in supposing that I will marry you?你以为我会同你结婚,你这想法不是过早了吗?
形容词99%,名词1%
用作形容词His previous attempts had been unsuccessful.他以前的尝试没有成功。