Meaning & Definition of Former in English
English⟶
Former
/fɔrmər/
noun
1. The first of two or the first mentioned of two
- "Tom and dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today"
synonym:
- former
adjective
1. Referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
- "The novel was made into a film in 1943 and again in 1967
- I prefer the former version to the latter one"
synonym:
- former(a)
2. Belonging to some prior time
- "Erstwhile friend"
- "Our former glory"
- "The once capital of the state"
- "Her quondam lover"
synonym:
- erstwhile(a),
- former(a),
- old,
- onetime(a),
- one-time(a),
- quondam(a),
- sometime(a)
3. (used especially of persons) of the immediate past
- "The former president"
- "Our late president is still very active"
- "The previous occupant of the white house"
synonym:
- former(a),
- late(a),
- previous(a)
4. Belonging to the distant past
- "The early inhabitants of europe"
- "Former generations"
- "In other times"
synonym:
- early(a),
- former(a),
- other(a)
Examples of using
I can give two of my former teachers as references.
Tom is a former world triathlon champion.
She loves me; she has grown unused to her former state of life.