formerly
adverb
for·mer·ly
ˈfȯr-mər-lē 
ˈfȯr-mə-
1
: at an earlier time : previously
2
obsolete
: just before
Examples of formerly in a Sentence
He was formerly a congressman.
the newspaper formerly known as “The Newsprint”
Recent Examples on the Web
On its face, the action was taken to close loopholes that in some cases allowed dozens of backyard apartments on formerly single-family-home lots.
—
Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025
The Rancho Cordova Police Department said in a social media post on X, formerly Twitter, around 9:40 p.m. that southbound Sunrise Boulevard near Gold Country Boulevard was closed due to a vehicle accident and warned drivers to use an alternate route.
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacbee.com, 21 June 2025
The expansion Portland team hired Inky Son, formerly the chief administrative officer of the National Basketball Players Association, as its team president earlier this year and the organization’s first employee.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 20 June 2025
The Vietnam Coast Guard received CSB 8020—formerly USCGC Morgenthau—in 2017 and CSB 8021—formerly USCGC John Midgett—in 2020.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for formerly
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Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025
The Rancho Cordova Police Department said in a social media post on X, formerly Twitter, around 9:40 p.m. that southbound Sunrise Boulevard near Gold Country Boulevard was closed due to a vehicle accident and warned drivers to use an alternate route.
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacbee.com, 21 June 2025
The expansion Portland team hired Inky Son, formerly the chief administrative officer of the National Basketball Players Association, as its team president earlier this year and the organization’s first employee.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 20 June 2025
The Vietnam Coast Guard received CSB 8020—formerly USCGC Morgenthau—in 2017 and CSB 8021—formerly USCGC John Midgett—in 2020.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for formerly
Cite this Entry
“Formerly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formerly. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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formerly
adverb
for·mer·ly
ˈfȯr-mər-lē
: at an earlier time : previously
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