previous and prior imply existing or occurring earlier, but prior often adds an implication of greater importance.

PRIOR definition: 1. existing or happening before something else, or before a particular time: 2. before a…. Learn more.

PRIOR definition: preceding in time or in order; earlier or former; previous. See examples of prior used in a sentence.

Usage Note: Though prior usually modifies a noun that comes after it, as in prior approval, it sometimes modifies a noun for a unit of time which precedes it, as in five years prior.

The earliest known use of the word prior is in the early 1600s. OED's earliest evidence for prior is from 1607, in the writing of Barnabe Barnes, poet and playwright.

3 days ago · This adjective has no positive form; rather, it serves as the comparative (prior) and superlative (prīmus) of the preposition prae. (Compare the preposition post, with comparative …

pri•or1 (prī′ ər), adj. preceding in time or in order; earlier or former; previous: A prior agreement prevents me from accepting this. preceding in importance or privilege. Idioms prior to, preceding; before: Prior …

Prior definition: Preceding in time or order.

Prior Authorization We are committed to helping you access safe and effective care. To accomplish this, we use prior authorization, which is a system that ensures resources are used appropriately. What is …

PRIOR meaning: 1 : existing earlier in time previous; 2 : more important than something else because it came first