Synonyms for former
ˈfɔr mərfor·mer

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:2.0 / 3 votes

1. formeradjective

   Antonyms:
   latter

2. formeradjective

   previous

   Dave was the former of the company.

   Synonyms:
   quondam, erstwhile, anterior, ex-, previous, prior

   Antonyms:
   latter

3. formeradjective

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

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

   Synonyms:
   anterior, erstwhile, ex-, quondam, previous, prior

   Antonyms:
   latter

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.0 / 1 vote

1. former

   The efficient cause, that which makes anything to be or be done, is the common meaning of the word, as in the saying "There is no effect without a cause." Every man instinctively recognizes himself acting through will as the cause of his own actions. The Creator is the Great First Cause of all things. A condition is something that necessarily precedes a result, but does not produce it. An antecedent simply precedes a result, with or without any agency in producing it; as, Monday is the invariable antecedent of Tuesday, but not the cause of it. The direct antonym of cause is effect, while that of antecedent is consequent. An occasion is some event which brings a cause into action at a particular moment; gravitation and heat are the causes of an avalanche; the steep incline of the mountain-side is a necessary condition, and the shout of the traveler may be the occasion of its fall. Causality is the doctrine or principle of causes, causation the action or working of causes. Compare DESIGN; REASON.

   Synonyms:
   actor, agent, antecedent, author, causality, causation, cause, condition, creator, designer, fountain, motive, occasion, origin, originator, power, precedent, reason, reason, source, spring

   Antonyms:
   consequence, creation, development, effect, end, end, event, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, product, result

   Preposition:
   The cause of the disaster; cause for interference.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. former

   Synonyms:
   preceding, antecedent, previous, prior, earlier, ancient, bygone, anterior, first-mentioned, foregoing

   Antonyms:
   succeeding, subsequent, posterior, latter, modern, coming, future

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. formeradjective

   the first of two or the first mentioned of two

   "Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today"

   Antonyms:
   latter, present(a), future

2. former(a)adjective

   referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)

   "the novel was made into a film in 1943 and again in 1967; I prefer the former version to the latter one"

   Antonyms:
   latter, future, present(a)

3. erstwhile(a), former(a), old, onetime(a), one-time(a), quondam(a), sometime(a)adjective

   belonging to some prior time

   "erstwhile friend"; "our former glory"; "the once capital of the state"; "her quondam lover"

   Antonyms:
   latter, present(a), future

4. former(a), late(a), previous(a)adjective

   (used especially of persons) of the immediate past

   "the former president"; "our late President is still very active"; "the previous occupant of the White House"

   Antonyms:
   latter, future, present(a)

5. early(a), former(a), other(a)adjective

   belonging to the distant past

   "the early inhabitants of Europe"; "former generations"; "in other times"

   Antonyms:
   latter, present(a), future

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. formeradjective

   Synonyms:
   maker, framer, author, creator, constructor

2. formeradjective

   Synonyms:
   previous, prior, anterior, antecedent, preceding, foregoing

3. formeradjective

   Synonyms:
   quondam, ci-devant, late, old-time

4. formeradjective

   Synonyms:
   past, gone by

5. formeradjective

   Synonyms:
   first named, first mentioned

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. formeradjective

   Synonyms:
   antecedent, preceding, previous, prior, foregoing, bygone, quondam, ci-devant

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "former":

   ex, old, previous, ancient, antigua, ago, earlier, prior, past, before, preceding, formerly, elders, predecessor, exs, first, ancien, ex-girlfriend, ex-, ex-boyfriend, anciens, ex-president, erstwhile, alumni, outgoing, f.d., ousted, ancienne, ex-wife, long-standing, legacy, previously, last, elder, ex-combatants, antique

Suggested Resources

1. Former

   Former vs. Latter -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Former and Latter.

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How to use former in a sentence?

1. Jamal Ware:

   The Select Committee on Benghazi today issued subpoenas for all communications of former Secretary of Hillary Clinton related to Libya and to the State Department for other individuals who have information pertinent to the investigation, the committee also has issued preservation letters to Internet firms informing them of their legal obligation to protect all relevant documents.

2. Reg Keys:

   But I certainly hope it points the finger of accountability in the direction of the former prime minister who was the key player with all of this deceit.

3. Tony Clark:

   I’m a former player. I owe everything to the game. So do I watch it? Do I critique it? Do I analyze it? Am I willing to have a conversation about its well-being? always have and will continue to. That’s not going to change. And I’m sure that at the end of the World Series, the dialogue that we’ve had to this point will continue.

4. Bhava Ram:

   When you’re a former type-A male, you don’t want to admit that you’re depressed, that anything’s wrong, which is one reason you medicate more to get away from the reality of your circumstance, you certainly don’t want to show any weakness— that’s one of the obstacles to healing, the inability to really face who you are and what happened.

5. Tim Murtaugh:

   President Trump has the support of a record number of Republicans and leads a united party, any efforts by disgruntled former Republicans is doomed to fail.