Previously Meaning
Previously Definition & Usage
At a previous time; before now or before the present moment.
Examples
- "I had previously visited the museum last year."
- "She was previously employed at a different company."
- "The software had previously been updated but failed to fix the issue."
- "Previously, the team had always relied on paper reports, but now they use digital tools."
- "They had previously discussed the issue, but no solution was reached."
Used to indicate that a state or condition has changed from a prior situation.
Examples
- "Previously, I would have accepted the offer, but now I'm hesitant."
- "His behavior was previously much more disciplined."
- "The city was previously a quiet town before the development boom."
- "Previously, we focused on short-term goals, but now we aim for long-term success."
- "This project previously lacked direction, but now it's organized and on track."
Cultural Context
The word 'previously' has been used in English since the Middle Ages, originally derived from Old French. It serves as a way to reference events, states, or conditions that occurred before the current moment, making it crucial in historical narratives, storytelling, and explanations of sequence.
The Meeting That Wasn't
Story
The Meeting That Wasn't
Samantha had been excited for her meeting with the board, the first one since she had joined the company. As she arrived at the conference room, she glanced at the clock—it was 9:05 AM. The meeting was supposed to start at 9:00 AM. She checked her emails once again to confirm the time. It was clear: she had arrived too late. 'I had previously been told that the meeting would begin promptly at 9 AM,' Samantha thought to herself, feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment. She'd had plenty of time to prepare, but the simple miscommunication about the timing made her second-guess her readiness. As she walked into the room, her colleagues were already seated. Sarah, one of the senior board members, glanced at her and said, 'You were previously scheduled to join us at 9, but it seems you missed the announcement.' Samantha nodded, 'I know. I had been focused on finalizing the report.' She sat down and tried to make up for her tardiness. She explained how she had reviewed the market trends earlier that morning and wanted to present a more thorough analysis than originally planned. The meeting carried on, but as Samantha spoke, she realized that she had underestimated the shift in company priorities. Previously, her team had focused mostly on growth strategies, but now the emphasis had shifted to efficiency and cutting costs. Later, during a break, Samantha sat with John, a colleague from another department. He laughed and said, 'You know, Samantha, previously this company was known for its relaxed approach to deadlines, but now everything is time-sensitive.' She smiled, appreciating the subtle humor, but couldn't help but feel the weight of the change in expectations. The contrast between how things were and how they were now became even more apparent as the meeting continued, and Samantha realized that she needed to adapt quickly if she wanted to succeed in this new phase of the company. As she left the meeting, she thought back to the days when she had first started at the company. Previously, she had been more flexible in her approach, but now it seemed that change was the only constant.
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