Definition Synonyms
Definition of former - Reverso English Dictionary
Adjective
1.
roleshaving held a previous position or role
- She is the former president of the club.
2.
orderreferring to the first of two mentioned items
- Between the cat and the dog, I prefer the former.
3.
past entityRare describing a country or entity that no longer existsRare
- He was born in the former Yugoslavia.
Noun
1.
creatorperson who creates or shapes something
- The artist was a former of beautiful sculptures.
2.
class memberRare someone in a specific class or formRare
- He was a former in the top class of his school.
Expressions with former
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in a past existence or identity, often humorously
I must have been a cat in a former life.
person much weaker than before
After the illness, he was a shadow of his former self.
person who previously held a job
The former employee was invited to the company's anniversary event.
person who used to work at a job
The company held a reunion for every former worker.
person who was convicted of a crime
The program helps former convicts find jobs.
ex-colleague from a sports team
He often talks about his former teammate from the football club.
entity shaping public attitudes through media or leadership
The news channel acts as an opinion former in political matters.
previous citizenship status
She had to renounce her former nationality to become a citizen here.
periods in the past, often nostalgically remembered
In former times, people wrote letters by hand.
at a time long ago in the past
In former days, people traveled by horse and carriage.
student in the last two years of secondary school
The sixth-former is preparing for university entrance exams..
make something as good as it was before
They plan to restore to former glory the old theater.
device used to shape or sharpen punches
The machinist used a punch former to sharpen the tool.
during years in the past, not recently
In former years, people wrote letters by hand.
Origin of former
Latin, former (earlier)
Terms with former included in their meaning
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past status
former or previous
former
no longer in a particular role or state
marriage
former wife or husband
romance
former romantic partner
former winner
person who was a champion before but is not now
former colleague
person who was a colleague before
history
former period in someone's life
former relationship
person who was once a partner
former leader
person who was a president before
relationship
former partners in romantic relationships
social
gathering of family, friends, or former associates
military
relating to former military members
education
graduate or former student of a school
recovering
regaining one's former status or position
events
gathering of former classmates
movement
move or go from a former position
romantic history
former romantic male partner
former spouse
man formerly a woman's husband
family
former wife of one's father
former spouse
woman to whom one was formerly married
former lake
area where a lake used to be
recovery
return to a former position or condition
former lover
person one was once in love with
past status
former or previous
Examples of former in a sentence
Our former teacher visited us yesterday. Of the two options, the former is cheaper. She chose the former over the latter for its simplicity. The former Soviet Union had a significant impact on history. He collects stamps from the former East Germany. He was a former of innovative ideas in technology.
As a former of policies, she influenced many reforms. The alumni association was filled with formers from various batches. As a former, she attended the reunion with her classmates.
View all translations of former
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:ancien, créateur, ...
- German:ehemalig, Former, ...
- Italian:ex, creatore, ...
- Spanish:anterior, formador, ...
- Portuguese:antigo, criador, ...
- Chinese:前任的, 塑造者, ...
- Japanese:元の, 創作者, ...
- Arabic:سَابِق, مبدِع, ...
- Hebrew:לְשֶׁעָבַר, יוֹצֵר, ...
- Russian:бывший, создатель, ...
- Ukrainian:колишній, творець, ...
- Hindi:पूर्व, निर्माता, ...
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