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adjective · B1 · often · UK/US

former

former

Meaning of former

having been something before now

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B1often

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Pronunciation
British English/ˈfɔːmə/
American English/ˈfɔːrmɚ/
Chinese pronunciation in Latin lettersyǐ qián de
former
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former with Chinese translation

former usage examples

🇨🇳Chinese🇬🇧English

My former teacher now lives abroad.

🇨🇳Chinese🇬🇧English

I still remember my former coach.

Learn by topic

former belongs to the topic "Top 1000". Start with a short 7-word set so the word is easier to remember in context.

former以前的
chopped切碎的
cooked煮熟的
frozen冷冻的
raw生的
salty咸的
sliced切片的

former synonyms

Related word breakdowns

What's the difference between former / past / ex / previous / preceding / prior

🇬🇧English

more general; often means ‘earlier in time’ rather than specifically ‘former’ before a noun

A1Very Often

In the past, she lived abroad.

🇬🇧English

used mostly for a former partner, spouse, or job in informal speech

A1Often

Her ex-husband lives in London.

🇬🇧English

means ‘before this one’ in a sequence; less about ‘former identity’

A1Very Often

Please read the previous page.

P
🇬🇧English
preceding

more formal; often used for something directly before another in order or text

A1Rarely

See the preceding paragraph.

🇬🇧English

formal; often used in phrases like ‘prior to’ or ‘prior experience’

A1Often

He had prior experience in sales.

E
🇬🇧English
earlier

usually means ‘at an earlier time’; more about time than about being ‘former’

A1Very Often

We met earlier this year.

🇬🇧English

used for someone who has died, not for ‘former’ in general

A1Often

The late Mr. Brown was a famous writer.

E
🇬🇧English
ex-

a prefix meaning ‘former’; used before nouns like ex-wife, ex-president

A1Often

She is an ex-manager of the company.

What's the difference

Related words and lists for former

How to pronounce former and what this word means

former means former. This page includes translation, pronunciation, transcription, audio, usage examples and related words.

how to pronounce former

/ˈfɔːmə/

former translation

former

former examples

My former teacher now lives abroad.

former transcription

/ˈfɔːmə/, /ˈfɔːrmɚ/

Questions about this word

former meaning: what does it mean?

having been something before now

former pronunciation: how do you pronounce it?

former is pronounced as /ˈfɔːmə/. Audio is available on this page when the word has a recording.

former definition and sentence examples: how is it used in a sentence?

My former teacher now lives abroad. Translation: Мой бывший учитель теперь живёт за границей.

Audio practiceExamplesSmart repeats

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