French word

auparavant

Pronunciation

IPA/opaʁavɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adverbpreviously

Example

Il vivait auparavant dans cette ville.

He previously lived in this town.

Illustration for auparavant (previously)

More examples

Nous nous sommes rencontrés quelques jours auparavant.

We met a few days earlier.

Core concept

A timeline places an earlier situation to the left of a later reference point.

Common phrases

  • quelques jours auparavant

    a few days earlier

  • quelques instants auparavant

    a few moments earlier

Similar words

avant: Before a stated time or event.
plus tôt: At an earlier time than a stated time or appointment.
autrefois: In the past, over a period when something happened repeatedly or continued.
précédemment: Earlier in a story or written passage.

Definition in French

Marque qu'un événement a eu lieu auparavant par rapport au moment évoqué, sans connotation d'habitude.

Word origin

The adverb developed from the Old French phrase au par avant, while avant ultimately comes from Latin ante.

Usage tips

  • Auparavant is an adverb, so avant de partir is used for 'before leaving,' not auparavant de partir.

Other meanings

  • formerlyadverb
  • beforeadverb

Opposites

  • ensuiteafterwardsadverb
  • plus tardlateradverb

Word lists with this word