formeradjective [ before noun ]
uk/ˈfɔː.mər/us/ˈfɔːr.mɚ/B1 of or in an earlier time; before the present time or in the past:
his former wife
a former employer
the former president of the United States
The luxury apartments are in a former factory.
The painting was then restored to its former glory (= returned to its original good condition).
It was a long time after the accident before he seemed like his former self (= behaved in the way he had before).
More examples
- We need a reference from your former employer.
- Australia and New Zealand are former British colonies.
- A large majority of the population is demanding the restoration of the former government.
- She stiffened when her former husband walked into the room.
- He's a former world heavyweight boxing champion.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
In the past
- ago
- any more idiom
- anymore
- back in the day idiom
- before
- clock
- dot
- late
- memory
- no longer idiom
- of late idiom
- of old idiom
- old
- once
- past
- the status quo ante
- the week/month/year before last idiom
- the year dot idiom
- use
- used
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Before, after and already
formernoun [ S ]
uk/ˈfɔː.mər/us/ˈfɔːr.mɚ/the former
More examples
- I agree with the latter point, but not with the former.
- Of the two proposals, they accepted the former.
- Of the two options, we've gone for the former.
- The former was rejected in favour of the latter.
- The heavyweight contest between Smith and Walker was decided when the former was knocked out in the second round.
B2 the first of two people, things, or groups previously mentioned:
Of the two suggestions, I prefer the former.
Compare
latter noun
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
First and firstly
- at first idiom
- begin
- debut
- first come, first served idiom
- firstly
- for starters idiom
- in the first/second place idiom
- inaugural
- initial
- initially
- introduction
- opener
- place
- prefatory
- primary
- proto-
- starter
- to begin with idiom
- ur-
- word
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