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Previous vs Early - What's the difference?

previous | early |

As adjectives the difference between previous and early

is that previous is prior; occurring before something else, either in time or order while early is at a time in advance of the usual or expected event.

As nouns the difference between previous and early

is that previous is (informal|uk) an existing criminal record; short for "previous convictions" while early is a shift (scheduled work period) that takes place early in the day.

As an adverb early is

at a time before expected; sooner than usual.

previous

English

Alternative forms

* (archaic)

Adjective

(-)
  • Prior; occurring before something else, either in time or order.
  • * Thomson
    • The dull sound previous to the storm, / Rolls o'er the muttering earth.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham)
    • , title=(The China Governess) , chapter=Foreword citation , passage=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.}}
    He is no better than the previous Prime Minister.
  • (informal)  Premature; occurring too soon.
    • I thought that I had solved the problem, but I was a bit previous .

    Synonyms

    * former * late * old * See also

    Antonyms

    * future * following * next * succeeding

    Noun

    (-)
  • (informal, UK) An existing criminal record; short for "previous convictions".
    • It turned out the shoplifter had a lot of previous .
  • * November 2 2014 , Daniel Taylor, " Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United," guardian.co.uk
    • 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.

    Anagrams

    * *

    early

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • At a time in advance of the usual or expected event.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-29, volume=407, issue=8842, page=28, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= High and wet , passage=Floods in northern India, mostly in the small state of Uttarakhand, have wrought disaster on an enormous scale. The early , intense onset of the monsoon on June 14th swelled rivers, washing away roads, bridges, hotels and even whole villages. Rock-filled torrents smashed vehicles and homes, burying victims under rubble and sludge.}}
  • Arriving a time before expected; sooner than on time.
  • Near the start or beginning.
  • *
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients, chapter=1 , passage='Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.}}
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= The attack of the MOOCs , passage=Dotcom mania was slow in coming to higher education, but now it has the venerable industry firmly in its grip. Since the launch early last year of Udacity and Coursera, two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations.}}
  • Having begun to occur; in its early stages.

    • Synonyms

    * (at a time in advance of the usual): premature * (near the start): first

    Antonyms

    * (at a time in advance of the usual): late * : terminal

    Derived terms

    (Derived terms) * earliness * early bath * early bird/the early bird catches the worm * early doors * early grave * early innings * earlyish * Early Latin * early modern * early music * early on * early purple orchid * early retirement * early spider orchid * early syphilis * * early warning radar * early winter cress * early withdrawal * nice and early

    Adverb

    (er)
  • At a time before expected; sooner than usual.
  • *
    • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=No matter how early I came down, I would find him on the veranda, smoking cigarettes, or otherwise his man would be there with a message to say that his master would shortly join me if I would kindly wait.}}
  • Soon; in good time; seasonably.
  • * Bible, Proverbs viii. 17
    • Those that seek me early shall find me.
  • *
    • You must wake and call me early .

    Synonyms

    * prematurely

    Antonyms

    * late, tardily

    Noun

    (earlies)
  • A shift (scheduled work period) that takes place early in the day.
  • * 2007 , Paul W. Browning, The Good Guys Wear Blue (page 193)
    • On my first day on the watch after leaving the shoplifting squad I paraded on earlies but had completely forgotten to take my ear ring off.

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * * 1000 English basic words