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 ship was built in 1991 and most recently belonged to the formerly defunct but now reborn luxury line Crystal Cruises; Lindblad acquired the vessel in 2021 and decreased its capacity from 62 to 48 passengers in 26 all-suite accommodations. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026

After going Instagram official, the couple have been seen together spending time with Kardashian's kids — Psalm, 7, Chicago, 8, Saint, 10, and North, 13 — with ex Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West. — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 14 July 2026

The airstrip, formerly used to hold immigrants in industrial tents, is now cleared with only a few structures and cars remaining. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026

The vacant space formerly housed an REI that moved to Carlsbad. — Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2026