former

CEFRB2

/ˈfɔɹmɚ/

adjective · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Having held a position or existed at an earlier time.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    First of aforementioned two items. Used with the, often without a noun.

Examples

  • Fish and meat are both nourishing, but the latter is more expensive than the former.

  • Kyoto was the former capital of Japan.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
3
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meaning

  1. Someone who forms something; a maker; a creator or founder.

noun

Extra meanings

  1. An object used to form something, such as a template, gauge, or cutting die.

  2. Someone in, or of, a certain form (class).

More examples

In context

  • The former president attended the opening ceremony yesterday.

  • The former is a good idea but the latter is not.

  • the former East Germany

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

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Nearby

Origin

adjective

Inherited from Middle English former, comparative of forme (“first”), from Old English forma (“first”), descended from Proto-Germanic *frumô. Parallel to prior (via Latin), as comparative form from same Proto-Indo-European root. Related to first and fore (thence before), from Proto-Germanic.