| / English Dictionary |
FORMER
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The first of two or the first mentioned of two
Example:
Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today
Classified under:
Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas
Hypernyms ("former" is a kind of...):
first; number one (the first or highest in an ordering or series)
Antonym:
latter (the second of two or the second mentioned of two)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
Example:
the novel was made into a film in 1943 and again in 1967; I prefer the former version to the latter one
Classified under:
Antonym:
latter (referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several))
Sense 2
Meaning:
Belonging to the distant past
Example:
in other times
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Similar:
past (earlier than the present time; no longer current)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Belonging to some prior time
Example:
her quondam lover
Synonyms:
erstwhile; former; old; one-time; onetime; quondam; sometime
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
past (earlier than the present time; no longer current)
Sense 4
Meaning:
(used especially of persons) of the immediate past
Example:
the previous occupant of the White House
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
past (earlier than the present time; no longer current)
Context examples:
A classification of usage or experience that falls into three categories; never, current, or former.
(CDISC SDTM Never/Current/Former Classification Terminology, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)
I saw the former, in his last great triumph.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
A basic unit of length in the former CGS version of metric system, equal to one hundredth of a meter or approximately 0.393 700 787 inch.
(Centimeter, NCI Thesaurus)
"Upon my soul it is,"—was his answer, with a warmth which brought all the former Willoughby to her remembrance, and in spite of herself made her think him sincere.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
This includes those currently using, in treatment, and former users.
(Cancer Pain Group, NCI Thesaurus)
It can occur as a chronic or acute form; the former is predominantly seen in adults and the latter in children.
(Acquired pure red cell aplasia, NCI Thesaurus)
Last year, Opportunity became the long-distance champion of all off-Earth vehicles when it topped the previous record set by the former Soviet Union's Lunokhod 2 moon rover.
(Opportunity Mars Rover Passes Marathon Distance, NASA)
She had Rushworth feelings, and Crawford feelings, and in the vicinity of Sotherton the former had considerable effect.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
But the lecture began to take effect, for there was a wide-awake sparkle in his eyes now and a half-angry, half-injured expression replaced the former indifference.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
And even Billee, the good-natured, was less good-natured, and whined not half so placatingly as in former days.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
