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

The news was announced at the Edinburgh TV Festival, where Rajan, formerly the BBC’s media editor, was giving the alternative MacTaggart lecture. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026

With previews that began on September 17, 2021, and an opening night on Sunday, October 3, 2021, Six has become the longest running show to ever have played the Lena Horne Theatre (formerly the Brooks Atkinson Theatre). — Greg Evans, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026

The property was formerly owned by Exxon Mobil, and the state says the development will bring the site back into commercial use while creating new economic activity along the coast. — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026

The spaceport would be located on 125,000 acres of land formerly owned by Exxon along Louisiana’s southern coast about 200 miles west of New Orleans in Vermilion Parish. — Stephen Smith, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026