Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [fawr-mer]
- /ˈfɔr mər/
- /ˈfɔːmə(r)/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [fawr-mer]
- /ˈfɔr mər/
Definitions of former word
- adjective former preceding in time; prior or earlier: during a former stage in the proceedings. 1
- adjective former past, long past, or ancient: in former times. 1
- adjective former preceding in order; being the first of two: Our former manufacturing process was too costly. 1
- adjective former being the first mentioned of two (distinguished from latter): The former suggestion was preferred to the latter. 1
- adjective former having once, or previously, been; erstwhile: a former president. 1
- noun former a person or thing that forms or serves to form. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of former
First appearance:
before 1125 One of the 6% oldest English words
1125-75; Middle English, equivalent to forme (Old English forma first) + -er -er4. Cf. foremost
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Former
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
former popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
former usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for former
adj former
- old — far advanced in the years of one's or its life: an old man; an old horse; an old tree.
- departed — Departed friends or relatives are people who have died.
- anterior — Anterior describes a part of the body that is situated at or towards the front of another part.
- antecedent — An antecedent of something happened or existed before it and was similar to it in some way.
- ancient — Ancient means very old, or having existed for a long time.
adjective former
adverb former
- in front — the foremost part or surface of anything.
- aforetime — formerly
- anteriorly — in an anterior position
- before — If something happens before a particular date, time, or event, it happens earlier than that date, time, or event.
- in advance — to move or bring forward: The general advanced his troops to the new position.
noun former
- foregoer — Alternative form of forgoer.
- predecessor — parent
- antecessor — a predecessor; someone who goes or has gone before
Antonyms for former
adj former
- after — If something happens after a particular date or event, it happens during the period of time that follows that date or event.
- modern — of or relating to present and recent time; not ancient or remote: modern city life.
- current — A current is a steady and continuous flowing movement of some of the water in a river, lake, or sea.
- following — the act of following.
- future — time that is to be or come hereafter.
adjective former
- ensuing — Present participle of ensue.
adverb former
- infra — below, especially when used in referring to parts of a text.
- in the end — the last part or extremity, lengthwise, of anything that is longer than it is wide or broad: the end of a street; the end of a rope.
- by and by — presently or eventually
- subsequently — occurring or coming later or after (often followed by to): subsequent events; Subsequent to their arrival in Chicago, they bought a new car.
Top questions with former
- what does former mean?
- consumption was the former name of which disease?
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- how to return the thieves guild to its former glory?
- which of the following is a former british colony?
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- why was reconstruction needed for the former confederacy?
- how many secret service agents are assigned to former presidents?
- former slaves who were released from slavery were called?
- how old is former president bill clinton?
- how many former presidents are still living?
- how many former presidents are still alive?
- what is the former name of cambodia?
- how to request w2 from former employer?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with f
- Words starting with fo
- Words starting with for
- Words starting with form
- Words starting with forme
- Words starting with former