A vibrant green caterpillar sits on a large green leaf. Nearby, a colorful monarch butterfly is flying away, symbolizing the transformation that occurred previously.

anteriormente

an-te-riohr-MEN-teh

adverbB1

previously?referring to a past time,formerly?referring to a past state or name

Also:before?used as a substitute for 'antes'

📝 In Action

Anteriormente, trabajaba como profesora de historia.

Previously, I worked as a history teacher.

El edificio, anteriormente una biblioteca, es ahora un restaurante.

The building, formerly a library, is now a restaurant.

Aunque anteriormente se había negado, la junta directiva aprobó el plan de expansión.

Although it had previously been denied, the board of directors approved the expansion plan.

Word Connections

Synonyms

previamente (previously)
antes (before)
antaño (in former times (more literary))

Antonyms

actualmente (currently)
después (afterwards)

Common Collocations

mencionado anteriormente – previously mentioned
conocido anteriormente como – formerly known as

💡 Grammar Points

Adverb Placement

Like many adverbs ending in -mente, 'anteriormente' usually sits near the verb it describes, or at the beginning of the sentence to set the scene.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'anterior' instead

Mistake: "Usé el libro anterior."

Correction: The word 'anterior' is an adjective (previous/former), so you must add the -mente ending to turn it into an adverb meaning 'previously' or 'formerly' (Usé el libro anteriormente).

⭐ Usage Tips

Formal vs. Informal

While 'antes' means 'before' and is great for everyday chat, 'anteriormente' is often preferred in writing, reports, or formal speech when you mean 'previously' or 'in a former state.'

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: anteriormente

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'anteriormente' to mean 'in a previous state'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

anterior(previous, former) - adjective

anterioridad(priority, precedence) - noun

antes(before) - adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

¿Cuál es la diferencia entre 'anteriormente' y 'antes'?

Both refer to the past, but 'anteriormente' (previously/formerly) is generally used to describe a state or action that happened at some point in the past, often in contrast with the present. 'Antes' (before) is more flexible and commonly used to specify a time relationship, like 'antes de las 5' (before 5).