formerly

adverb

for·​mer·​ly ˈfȯr-mər-lē How to pronounce formerly (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Scott Thomas takes to the driver’s seat with confidence in Vertical’s My Mother’s Wedding (formerly titled North Star) set to hit U.S. theaters on Aug. 8 after its 2023 TIFF debut, with Scarlett Johansson, Sienna Miller and Emily Beecham. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025 Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant — who created the original British version of The Office — also exec produce along with Howard Klein, Ben Silverman and Banijay Americas (formerly Reveille). Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2025 The Brand House Collective, Inc., formerly Kirkland's, Inc., announced the grand opening of its first Bed Bath & Beyond Home store on Aug. 8, in Nashville, marking the retailer’s first brick-and-mortar location since filing for bankruptcy and closing its stores in 2023. Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 7 Aug. 2025 The people settling here were in for some major changes from formerly nomadic lifestyles. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for formerly

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of formerly was in 1534

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Cite this Entry

“Formerly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formerly. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

formerly

adverb
for·​mer·​ly ˈfȯr-mər-lē How to pronounce formerly (audio)
: at an earlier time : previously

More from Merriam-Webster on formerly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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