1
a
: coming before in time
She now appears like her former self.
b
: of, relating to, or occurring in the past
former correspondence
restoring the theater to its former glory
2
: preceding in place or arrangement : foregoing
the former part of the chapter
3
: first in order of two or more things cited or understood
of the two given, the former spelling is more common
of the two spellings, the former is more common
4
: having been previously : onetime
a former athlete
her former husband
1
: one that forms
2
chiefly British
: a member of a school form
—usually used in combination
sixth former
Synonyms
Examples of former in a Sentence
Adjective
the coach is a former professional baseball player
the former manual had some errors, but the current version has its own problems
Recent Examples on the Web
Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2024
But Trump’s broad claim that a former president can’t face criminal charges without first being impeached by the House of Representatives and convicted in the Senate is just one of several high-stakes cases the nine justices will hear this week.
—Dan Morrison, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024
The former four-star prospect was one of the standout freshmen of spring camp, earning raves from offensive and defensive teammates alike who praised his consistency, maturity and advanced technique honed from years of practicing with his older brother, former USC safety Max Williams.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2024
Perot's former campaign manager, Russell Verney, said third-party candidates must overcome more obstacles today than in the past.
—Allison Novelo, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2024
The tempura restaurant is located inside a former geisha house in a historical Tokyo district.
—John Clifford, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2024
One of the company’s early partners – former Virginia Gardens police chief Steve Garrison – lost his son to an overdose.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2024
Kane Footwear was established in 2020 by former Maverik Lacrosse CEO John Gagliardi and podiatrist Dr. Daniel Geller.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024
That’s the argument of former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, who became famous trying to defend debt-laden Greece from its German creditors.
—Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2024
George Avalos, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2024
The tricky part was figuring out the right concentrations: Too much alcohol dilutes the film formers, too little produces a longer dry time and a more obvious film.
—Maura Lynch, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023
Most mascaras are emulsions — a base of water and oil, plus pigments to darken, and a blend of starches, fibers, waxes, and film formers to add length and volume.
—Maura Lynch, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023
The organic, colorful former creates a symbiotic relationship with the rugged, geometric latter to generate contemplative reflection.
—Elle Decor Editors, ELLE Decor, 11 May 2023
Best Eye Treatment Mary Kay Instant Puffiness Reducer $35 at Mary Kay Credit: marykay.com Watch in wonder as a trio of sodium silicate, clays, and film formers sends bags packing instantly.
—Women's Health, 9 May 2023
How did these questions not just arise, but seize the cultural heights, become the day-to-day obsession of all opinion-formers and tastemakers?
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 29 Mar. 2023
The runs on Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank over the past week—the former’s collapse in part caused by interest rate hikes squeezing its Treasury and mortagage bond investments—may even call for a pause in the Fed’s rate-tightening schedule.
—Nate Dicamillo, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2023
Now in a recent conversation with Michael Brendan Dougherty Friedersdorf describes the former's baseball newsletter, The Slurve.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 7 Apr. 2013
Adjective
Queen Elizabeth would have turned 98 on April 21, and a former royal butler to King Charles is sharing how the royal family will commemorate the day.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2024
But Trump’s broad claim that a former president can’t face criminal charges without first being impeached by the House of Representatives and convicted in the Senate is just one of several high-stakes cases the nine justices will hear this week.
—Dan Morrison, USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024
The former four-star prospect was one of the standout freshmen of spring camp, earning raves from offensive and defensive teammates alike who praised his consistency, maturity and advanced technique honed from years of practicing with his older brother, former USC safety Max Williams.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2024
Perot's former campaign manager, Russell Verney, said third-party candidates must overcome more obstacles today than in the past.
—Allison Novelo, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2024
The tempura restaurant is located inside a former geisha house in a historical Tokyo district.
—John Clifford, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2024
One of the company’s early partners – former Virginia Gardens police chief Steve Garrison – lost his son to an overdose.
—C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2024
Kane Footwear was established in 2020 by former Maverik Lacrosse CEO John Gagliardi and podiatrist Dr. Daniel Geller.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024
That’s the argument of former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, who became famous trying to defend debt-laden Greece from its German creditors.
—Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2024
Noun
Oakland, another former hotbed for new hotel development, saw just two hotel openings in 2023.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2024
The tricky part was figuring out the right concentrations: Too much alcohol dilutes the film formers, too little produces a longer dry time and a more obvious film.
—Maura Lynch, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023
Most mascaras are emulsions — a base of water and oil, plus pigments to darken, and a blend of starches, fibers, waxes, and film formers to add length and volume.
—Maura Lynch, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023
The organic, colorful former creates a symbiotic relationship with the rugged, geometric latter to generate contemplative reflection.
—Elle Decor Editors, ELLE Decor, 11 May 2023
Best Eye Treatment Mary Kay Instant Puffiness Reducer $35 at Mary Kay Credit: marykay.com Watch in wonder as a trio of sodium silicate, clays, and film formers sends bags packing instantly.
—Women's Health, 9 May 2023
How did these questions not just arise, but seize the cultural heights, become the day-to-day obsession of all opinion-formers and tastemakers?
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 29 Mar. 2023
The runs on Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank over the past week—the former’s collapse in part caused by interest rate hikes squeezing its Treasury and mortagage bond investments—may even call for a pause in the Fed’s rate-tightening schedule.
—Nate Dicamillo, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2023
Now in a recent conversation with Michael Brendan Dougherty Friedersdorf describes the former's baseball newsletter, The Slurve.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 7 Apr. 2013
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'former.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Former.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/former. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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