Synonyms of formerly

formerly

adverb

ˈfȯr-mər-lē 

1

as in once

at an earlier or previous time

the newspaper formerly known as "The Newsprint"

Synonyms & Similar Words

• once
• erstwhile
• onetime

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recently
• now
• currently
• presently
• lately

2

as in earlier

so as to precede something in order of time

if you didn't get a malaria shot formerly, you'd better get one now

Synonyms & Similar Words

• earlier
• already
• previously
• ahead
• early
• before
• preliminarily
• now
• antecedently
• anteriorly
• afore
• in advance
• shortly
• soon
• beforehand
• first
• prematurely
• presently
• first off
• before long
• a priori
• erelong

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• later
• afterward
• subsequently
• after
• behind
• next
• by and by

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of formerly

Its second-place finish left it as the biggest opposition party nationally and the strongest political force in Germany's formerly communist east. — ABC News, 3 July 2026

On a parallel track to this downtown revitalization was the rise of Sporting KC, the Major League Soccer team formerly known as the Wizards. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026

Some, Book noted, entered the new permanent supportive housing projects the Trust stood up this year — including Hideaway on the Bay in Cutler Bay, where 70-plus formerly homeless seniors now live. — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026

Costa was formerly chief of staff to Emmanuel Macron during the president’s election campaign, before becoming chief of staff to Brigitte Macron, the First Lady of France, from 2017 to 2022. — News Desk, Artforum, 2 July 2026