formerly

adverb

for·​mer·​ly ˈfȯr-mər-lē How to pronounce formerly (audio)
ˈfȯr-mə-
1
: at an earlier time : previously
2
obsolete : just before

Examples of formerly in a Sentence

He was formerly a congressman. the newspaper formerly known as “The Newsprint”
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Strong is set to portray Meta (formerly Facebook) founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg a decade and a half after Eisenberg earned an Oscar nomination for his spin on the same divisive mogul. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025 Myres formerly served on a number of local boards, including the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission. Pj Green october 20, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2025 At La Catedral, people could place bets on races via parimutuel wagering, according to the complaint — the kind of betting done at tracks around the United States, and formerly done at Les Bois Park in Garden City before it was shuttered a decade ago. Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 20 Oct. 2025 In 2021, Mirah reissued two formerly out-of-print LPs, 2002’s Advisory Committee and 2004’s C’mon Miracle. Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for formerly

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of formerly was in 1534

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Cite this Entry

“Formerly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formerly. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

formerly

adverb
for·​mer·​ly ˈfȯr-mər-lē How to pronounce formerly (audio)
: at an earlier time : previously

More from Merriam-Webster on formerly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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