Past vs Previously

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Past

Top 1,000 (very common) A1 adjective

Previously

Top 2,000 (common) B1 adverb

Most common: Past

	Past	Previously
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/pɑːst/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/pæst/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/ˈpriːviəsli/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈpriːviəsli/"]/
Meaning	Something that happened before now.	Before now; earlier.
Example	I always look at past photos when I miss my childhood.	The building had previously been used as a hotel.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	A1	B1
Part of speech	adjective	adverb
Collocations	past tense, past events, in the past, past experiences	previously mentioned, previously discussed, previously stated, previously introduced, previously reported
Antonyms	future	subsequently, afterwards
Common mistakes	Confused with 'passed' (the verb form), Using 'past' improperly with present tense, Confusing 'the past' with 'history'	Using 'previous' instead of 'previously' in a sentence., Confusing 'previously' with 'currently' which means now., Misplacing 'previously' in a sentence and changing the meaning.
Usage notes	Used to describe things that have already occurred. Can refer to time (the past) or past events. In writing, be careful not to confuse with 'present' or 'future'.	Use 'previously' to connect past events with the present. It's suitable for both spoken and written contexts but may sound too formal in casual conversations.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Legolas, fire a warning shot past the bosun's ear.

House Of Cards › S1 E1

I have to run this past Tom.

Top Gear › S1 E1

if a car goes fast enough past a speed camera,

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Legolas, fire a warning shot past the bosun's ear.

House Of Cards › S1 E1

I have to run this past Tom.

Past

Frequently asked questions: Past vs Previously

What's the difference between Past and Previously?

Past: Something that happened before now. Previously: Before now; earlier.

Which is more common: Past and Previously?

Past is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Past and Previously?

Previously is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Past and Previously the same CEFR level?

Past: A1, Previously: B1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Past and Previously?

Past: adjective, Previously: adverb.

Can you show an example of each?

Past: I always look at past photos when I miss my childhood. Previously: The building had previously been used as a hotel.

Can I use Past and Previously interchangeably?

Not always. Past and Previously are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.