former

adjective

ˈfȯr-mər How to pronounce former (audio)
Definition of formernext
1
as in erstwhile
having been such at some previous time the coach is a former professional baseball player

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in previous
going before another in time or order the former manual had some errors, but the current version has its own problems

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word former distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of former are antecedent, anterior, foregoing, preceding, previous, and prior. While all these words mean "being before," former implies always a definite comparison or contrast with something that is latter.

the former name of the company

When would antecedent be a good substitute for former?

The synonyms antecedent and former are sometimes interchangeable, but antecedent applies to order in time and may suggest a causal relation.

conditions antecedent to the revolution

When could anterior be used to replace former?

The meanings of anterior and former largely overlap; however, anterior applies to position before or ahead of usually in space, sometimes in time or order.

the anterior lobe of the brain

When is foregoing a more appropriate choice than former?

The words foregoing and former are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foregoing applies chiefly to statements.

the foregoing remarks

When can preceding be used instead of former?

While the synonyms preceding and former are close in meaning, preceding usually implies being immediately before in time or in place.

the preceding sentence

How do previous and prior relate to one another, in the sense of former?

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

a child from a previous marriage
a prior obligation

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of former Previously, the administration of former Mayor Jerome Prince endorsed a controversial plan for Fulcrum BioEnergy to build a waste-to-energy plant on the site. — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025 On Wednesday, March 28, former infectious disease doctor Amy Cohen, 36, of Narberth, was sentenced to 11 to 23 months in prison after pleading guilty to arson, terroristic threats with the intent to terrorize another and other crimes, according to online court records. — Kc Baker, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025 Usta, 24, and his father – who was the president of the Turkish Ski and Snowboard Teachers Association and a former national skier – had been staying at the Kervansaray Hotel in Uludağ, Bursa. — Ben Morse, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025 What Does KenPom Say? Analytics guru Ken Pomeroy, a former U.S. government meteorologist, revolutionized the use of statistics as a predictor of success in the NCAA tournament in the early 2000s, and his rankings are recognized as the industry standard. — Jack Magruder, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for former
Recent Examples of Synonyms for former
  1. erstwhile
  2. previous
  3. old
  4. other
Adjective
  • Immediately after the conclusion of the speech, the Senate moved to confirm erstwhile former Trump first-term Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker as ambassador to NATO.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Peace in Ukraine and the Middle East is proving to be far harder to achieve than the real estate deals envisaged by the president, while the bludgeon of tariffs is raising ever more opposition among erstwhile allies.
    — Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
Definition of erstwhile
Adjective
  • The findings show that these sharks are spending time in waters less than 50 meters (164 feet) deep off Maine, with peak sightings occurring between July and September; this aligns with previous observations of white sharks using similar habitats in other regions.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
  • In 2021, Linfield went full-time; an upgrade from their previous semi-professional status.
    — Colin Millar, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of previous
Adjective
  • Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were the only players to hit that mark at 28 years old.
    — Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
  • In the Pig universe, which has now been running for two decades, George remains two years old and Peppa two years older.
    — Caroline Frost, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2025
Definition of old
Adjective
  • These and many other student protests provide powerful strategies and lessons on resistance and how employees can advocate for workplace justice. 1.
    — Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
  • By Hannah Coates Blueberry blush is as easy to apply as Bieber's other low-key makeup looks, based on the model's most recent TikTok post.
    — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of other

Browse Nearby Words

formed
former
formerly
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Cite this Entry

“Former.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/former. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of former for Spanish Speakers

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