formerly

adverb

ˈfȯr-mər-lē How to pronounce formerly (audio)
Definition of formerlynext
1
as in once
at an earlier or previous time the newspaper formerly known as "The Newsprint"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of formerly The company, formerly branded as Maxar, was acquired by Intuitive Machines in January 2026 for about $800 million. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 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 The system was created over years of collaboration between Austrian universities and research institutions via the Austrian Scientific Computing (ASC) consortium, formerly the Vienna Scientific Cluster (VSC). — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for formerly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formerly
  1. once
  2. already
  3. previously
  4. ahead
  5. early
Adverb
  • Unlike on New Year's Eve, the ball won't drop just once, but eight times for the first time ever to mark when the clock strikes midnight in each American time zone, according to the America250 website.
    — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • The clinical version dates to research in the 1960s and 1970s, when devices tracked heart rate variability, muscle tension and skin temperature to help people regulate what was once considered automatic.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026
Definition of once
Adverb
  • Whereas the federal incentive may have been enough to spark interest in a range of buyers, Moody said the lesser amount will probably appeal mainly to people who already have their eye on an EV.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Ahead of launching its first-ever foldable device, Apple has already secured components for about 80 million smartphones spread across new models for the second half of 2026, according to Nikkei Asia.
    — Justina Lee, CNBC, 3 July 2026
Definition of already
Adverb
  • Since the audit tool was introduced, multiple departments have announced arrests of officers across the state, signaling a level of misuse that may have previously gone undetected.
    — Taylor Croft, AJC.com, 9 July 2026
  • The Calabria governor confirmed that 63 Cuban doctors, some of them previously involved in Cuba’s international medical mission, recently applied to work in its healthcare system independently.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
Definition of previously
Adverb
  • Draft a short meeting agenda with key points, then talk through expectations with the person involved so the path ahead feels workable.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026
  • The house sits in a landscape of almost unimaginable beauty, cradled in the warm embrace of its own green valley, dramatic hills rising steeply on all sides but parting ahead to reveal distant fields.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026
Definition of ahead
Adverb
  • In New York City, the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks started a little earlier than scheduled to beat incoming storms.
    — Jon Haworth, ABC News, 5 July 2026
  • The Secret Service said earlier this evening that all attendees who evacuated the venue due to orders to shelter from approaching severe storms would have to go through security screenings again.
    — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026
Definition of early

Browse Nearby Words

former
formerly
formidability
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Cite this Entry

“Formerly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formerly. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of formerly for Spanish Speakers

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