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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
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Recent Examples of formerly
The San Diego location will open in a 10,000-square-foot building that was formerly owned by the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD).
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025
The prize was formerly given by U.S. Steel Corporation to the financial journalist whose economic forecasts for the coming year proved most accurate.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Back in 2018, when Versace was bought by Capri (formerly Michael Kors) from the Versace family and Blackstone, Capri splashed out $2.2 billion including debt.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2025
The story of Ted Scott’s first day as a caddie — for Grant Waite, a New Zealand PGA Tour pro — is legendary in the caddie community: Scott, formerly a full-time teaching pro, didn’t know he was expected to carry a yardage book, let alone be responsible for his player’s distances.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for formerly
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025
The prize was formerly given by U.S. Steel Corporation to the financial journalist whose economic forecasts for the coming year proved most accurate.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Back in 2018, when Versace was bought by Capri (formerly Michael Kors) from the Versace family and Blackstone, Capri splashed out $2.2 billion including debt.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2025
The story of Ted Scott’s first day as a caddie — for Grant Waite, a New Zealand PGA Tour pro — is legendary in the caddie community: Scott, formerly a full-time teaching pro, didn’t know he was expected to carry a yardage book, let alone be responsible for his player’s distances.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for formerly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formerly
Adverb
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Many would like to see a boost in coal to support the small towns that once survived off the industry but over the years have faced poverty and depopulation.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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This can be explained by Villa’s once infamous offside trap being tapered, meaning Martinez is not required to sweep as frequently.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Adverb
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Disagreements among the cardinals have already emerged in the media.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
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Consumers are already starting to notice costs rising from Trump’s tariff strategy, which has been all over the map: adding some here, delaying them there, canceling them here, upping them there.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
2 May 2025
Adverb
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This will be the largest crowd ever for a Bananas game, eclipsing the 65,000 that watched a game earlier this year in Tampa.—
Scott Soshnick,
Sportico.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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Fox Sports earlier this year ran promos featuring Josef Newgarden, who has won the Indianapolis 500 back to back on two separate occasions, along with Tom Brady, Fox Sports’ lead NFL analyst, to win fans for IndyCar.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Formerly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formerly. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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