Former — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈfȯr-mər/ for·mer

Meaning & Definition of Former

Former (adjective)

  1. coming before in time
  2. of, relating to, or occurring in the past
  3. preceding in place or arrangement, foregoing

Former (noun)

  1. one that forms
  2. a member of a school form —usually used in combination

Former (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having been such at some previous time

    "the coach is a former professional baseball player"

    similar: erstwhile, late, old, once, onetime, other, past, quondam, sometime, whilom
    related: bygone, dead, defunct, departed, expired, extinct, gone, long-ago, vanished
    near: contemporary, current, extant, ongoing, present, present-day, coming, future, prospective, unborn

  2. going before another in time or order

    "the former manual had some errors, but the current version has its own problems"

    similar: antecedent, anterior, foregoing, precedent, preceding, previous, prior
    related: advance, early, premature, earliest, first, inaugural, initial, maiden, original, pioneer, preexisting, introductory, preliminary, erstwhile, whilom
    opposite: after, ensuing, following, later, posterior, subsequent, succeeding
    near: advanced, late, closing, concluding, final, last, latest, latter, terminal, ultimate

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Former

The most common words with a similar meaning to Former:

erstwhile, late, old, once, onetime, other, past, quondam, sometime, whilom, antecedent, anterior, foregoing, precedent, preceding, previous, prior

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Former

Words with the opposite meaning of Former:

after, ensuing, following, later, posterior, subsequent, succeeding

Related Words for Former

bygone, dead, defunct, departed, expired, extinct, gone, long-ago, vanished, advance, early, premature, earliest, first, inaugural, initial, maiden, original, pioneer, preexisting, introductory, preliminary

Near Antonyms of Former

contemporary, current, extant, ongoing, present, present-day, coming, future, prospective, unborn, advanced, late, closing, concluding, final, last, latest, latter, terminal, ultimate

Origin & Etymology of Former

Middle English, from forme first, from Old English forma foremost

First known use: 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Former

Words & Phrases Containing Former

ghost/shadow of one's former self, the former

Frequently Asked Questions about Former

What does "Former" mean?

"Former" means coming before in time. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: coming before in time. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Former"?

Other words for "Former" include erstwhile, late, old, once, onetime, other, past and quondam. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Former" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Former"?

There are 39 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Former". Common alternatives include erstwhile, late, old, once, onetime, other, past, quondam, sometime and whilom.

What is the opposite of "Former"?

Antonyms of "Former" include after, ensuing, following, later, posterior, subsequent and succeeding. Near antonyms include contemporary, current, extant and ongoing.

How do you use "Former" in a sentence?

Examples of "Former" in a sentence: "the coach is a former professional baseball player"; "the former manual had some errors, but the current version has its own problems".

Is "Former" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Former" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Former" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Former" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Former"?

"Former" is pronounced /ˈfȯr-mər/ and divided into syllables as for·mer.